Amniotic Tissue Wound Care
Amniotic Tissue Wound Care
A cutting edge wound healing treatment is making breakthroughs in treatment of diabetic ulcers and significantly improving patient outcomes.
Amnitoic tissue-derived allografts are now available for physicians who treat diabetic ulcers and slow to heal wounds, significantly helping patients, some of whom may have otherwise been referred for amputation.
In the US alone, approximately 6.5 million patients are affected by chronic wounds. This is fueled by the ageing population, obesity and diabetes. These resistant wounds add significantly to the health care bill, with estimates of over $25 billion spent annually to treat chronic wounds and even more if amputations are included.
Patients who suffer slow healing wounds are often those with multiple chronic diseases, could be obese and have diabetes. Leg and foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes due to poor circulation or neuropathies and pressure wounds occur in bed ridden or obese patients with limited mobility. Smoking is also a risk factor.
Physicians are frequently challenged with the difficulty in healing wounds and typically refer these patients to podiatrists or wound centers. Allografts is an excellent add on to any physician looking to expedite healing in patients that have non healing wounds.
How Does It Work?
Allografts use amniotic tissue that is derived for homologous use, meaning that tissue matching is not required.
Amniotic tissue is a rich source of bioactive factors involved in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fibrotic and re-epithelialization properties.
When applied to a wound, growth factors and bioactive components activate tissue membranes and stimulate growth of new cells. The tissue is self-differentiating and will stimulate new skin, bone or muscle cells based on where it is applied. It is rich in active biologic components that include growth factors, cytokines, proteins and other cellular components.
The product can also be used surgically for in operative procedures and is sometimes used by orthopedists.
The tissue is applied to the wound as a dressing and then covered and kept dry for the duration of the application. The dressing is usually applied in 10 minutes or less depending on the wound and site. The dressing is consumed by the wound over the course of around 10 – 14 days, when a new dressing can then be applied. The patient can be checked on a weekly basis for monitoring of the wound.
Patient Benefits
The dressing reduces redness, inflammation and reduces scarring. A 95-100% success rate has been achieved in wound healing within a 6 week period for most wounds. This is remarkable given many patients will have had their wounds for weeks, months or even longer.
Success stories include non-healing wounds that are 2 years old being healed within 60 days where the patient had been considered for amputation. This wound healing can truly impact patient lives.
Practice Benefits
Billing for the procedure will see excellent reimbursements from Medicare. Commercial insurance will also reimburse for the treatment.
For patients to qualify for the procedure on insurances, documented evidence must be charted over 4 weeks of a non healing wound.
Practice types
Prime opportunities for this product are podiatrists, orthopedic surgeons and wound care centers. Most primary care doctors refer out chronic wounds and therefore do not typically treat wounds in office. This solution could however impact a willingness for primary care to get involved.
A variety of studies can be shared with the physician if requested.
Start Up and Implementation
1) Complete account application
2) Training provided in office
3) Purchase dressings as needed
Training covers dressing application as well as guidance for documenting wound care and all aspects of billing. The product can be delivered within 3 days and stored in the refrigerator, ready to use.
This product can remarkably impact the lives of patients and reduce the frustrations physicians experience in dealing with these stubborn wounds.
To find out more on any aspect of this program contact us below.