ConvaTec Solutions® Program(s) for Long Term Care

YOUR CHALLENGES

  • Balancing quality of care and organizational needs while running an efficient, clinically effective operation.

Consistently delivering quality care that keeps your facility in compliance and out of the courtroom.

Residents realized recovery
against the facility in 91% of the cases
either through settlement
or jury verdict (1999-2001).
1
Damages have ranged
from $95,000 to $312 million
(median recovery: $1,060,000)
(1999-2002).
1

A study showed that the facilities named in 20 lawsuits could have realized litigation savings of $11,389,989 had proper protocols been in place and followed.2


Facilities must comprehensively identify risk factors, accurately assess ulcer characteristics, and choose interventions based on current standards of practice to be in compliance and to reduce the likelihood of civil money penalties.3

Preventing avoidable pressure ulcers and healing chronic wounds.

Pressure ulcers by the numbers:

2.2% - 23.9%
Incidence of pressure ulcers in long-term care facilities (1990-2000)4

$ 70,000
Estimated cost to manage
each ulcer
5,a

$ 11 billion
Annual national total cost
to manage pressure ulcers
5


“The F-tag document is clear in its intent to encourage all long-term care facilities to adopt evidence-based pressure ulcer protocols of care and emphasizes the use of pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention strategies…”6

The high prevalence of infection can put your facility and patients at risk.

Infection control is a growing, highly visible issue:

  • Infections are among the most significant final causes of death in the long-term care setting and a frequent reason for hospital transfer7; skin/soft-tissue among the top four infections leading to transfer.8
  • LTCFs experience 300,000 outbreaks of Clostridium difficile annually.9
  • “If the frequency of antimicrobial-resistant cases becomes sufficiently high, the facility may find its reputation and its ability to market its services threatened.”10
26% to 50% of hospital transfers
are due to infections
9


Facilities must demonstrate that “infection control practices reflect current standards of practice”.3

Staffing turnover and vacancies have wide-ranging effects on patient care, employee relations, and efficiency.

Profile of the long-term care workforce:11

long-term care workforce


On-the-job training and access to support are vital components of your management plan.


References [+]

  1. Voss AC, Bender SA, Ferguson ML, Sauer AC, Bennett RG, Hahn PW. Long-term care liability for pressure ulcers. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53(9):1587-1592.
  2. Goebel RH, Goebel MR. Clinical practice guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention can prevent malpractice lawsuits in older patients. J WOCN. 1999;26(4):175-184.
  3. CMS Online Manual System Publication 100-07: State Operations Manual, Transmittal 4 (Appendix PP), §483.25(c), Pressure Sores (Tag 314). November 19, 2004. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/Downloads/R4SOM.pdf. Accessed September 19, 2007.
  4. Cuddigan J, Berlowitz DR, Ayello EA. Pressure ulcers in America: prevalence, incidence, and implications for the future. An executive summary of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel monograph. Adv SkinWound Care. 2001;14(4):208-215.
  5. Reddy M, Gill SS, Rochon PA. Preventing pressure ulcers: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;296(8):974-984.
  6. (http://leedergroup.com/bulletins/f-tag-314) & (Lyder C, van Rijswijk L. Pressure ulcer prevention and care: preventing and managing bulletins/f-tag-314) & (Lyder C, van Rijswijk L. Pressure ulcer prevention and care: preventing and managing pressure ulcers in long-term care: an overview of the revised federal regulation. Ostomy Wound Manage. April 2005;(suppl):1-19).
  7. Strausbaugh LJ, Joseph CL. The burden of infection in long-term care. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2000;21(10):674-679.
  8. American Medical Directors Association Web site. http://www.amda.com/tools/cpg/infections.cfm. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  9. Chilton LL. Infections and antimicrobial resistance in the elderly living in long-term care settings. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/493678. Accessed February 23, 2008.
  10. Strausbaugh LJ, Crossley KB, Nurse BA, Thrupp LD; SHEA Long-Term—Care Committee. Antimicrobial resistance in long-term–care facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1996;17(2):129-140.
  11. National Commission for Quality Long-term Care. Final Report. December 3, 2007.

Notes [+]

  1. Cost based on treatment of stage III and IV wounds.

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