Industry News October 2008

SAWC/WHS Survey Provides Insight Regarding Change in CMS Guidelines

   DM Systems Inc (Evanston, Ill) recently released results from a survey conducted at the 2008 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society Meeting (SAWC/WHS). A total of 153 professionals who visited the DM Systems booth completed the survey, which revealed how much the new CMS guidelines will change the way healthcare professionals think about and respond to heel pressure ulcers.    Of the 153 respondents, 137 (89%) responded to the question: “Do you perceive the new CMS guidelines will have a significant impact on the pressure ulcer prevention protocol at your facility?” Of that 89%, 87% confirmed that the new CMS guidelines (effective October 2008) would have a tremendous impact on their facility’s pressure ulcer protocol.    A total of 36% of the respondents indicated that they currently do not have an official heel pressure ulcer protocol, while 107 respondents stated that the most influential factor in their recommendation of a pressure relief device is that the product works best for their patients. Cost and availability were the least important factors, and an overwhelming majority of survey participants currently work in hospitals.    Visit www.heelift.com or call 800-254-5438 for more information.

Clinical Trial Affirms Honey’s Healing Benefits for Venous Leg Ulcers

   Medihoney™, Derma Sciences Inc’s (Princeton, NJ) Wound & Burn Dressing with Active Leptospermum Honey, was recently found to significantly improve the healing rates of stalled venous leg ulcers in a large, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Prior to this study, no other advanced wound care dressing under compression therapy demonstrated improved healing rates of leg ulcers.    In the 108-patient, randomized, controlled, clinical trial, venous leg ulcers proven to be nonhealing under standard treatment (compression therapy) were examined. Half of the patients had a common advanced wound care gel added to the standard treatment, while the other half of the patients had Active Leptospermum (Manuka Honey) added. After 4 weeks, the mean reduction in size of the wounds was 34% in the honey group and 13% in the control group. After 12 weeks, there was a 44% complete healing rate in the honey group compared to only 33% in the control group.    Physicians treat more than 4 million leg ulcers in the United States annually, with a total cost exceeding $1 billion. Since the launch of Medihoney in Europe a few years ago, and most recently in the United States and Canada, clinicians have consistently reported that Medihoney is effective on stalled ulcers of various etiologies.    Visit www.dermasciences.com for more information.