Little Rock, Arkansas – June, 2019. Right now, an estimated 6.7 million Americans are suffering with chronic, non-healing wounds. With this problem at hand, the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE) is helping raise awareness of chronic wounds by observing Wound Care Awareness Week June 3-7. SHARE is connected to many primary care and specialty care physicians and clinics that are educating patients and the public about the chronic wound epidemic and advanced wound care solutions.
The Problem: Millions of people throughout the U.S. suffer every day from an epidemic that is expected to grow over the next decade: Chronic wounds. This problem drastically affects people by diminishing their overall quality of life and potentially decreasing life expectancy if left untreated. Not only are wounds painful, dangerous and scary, but it is also estimated that wounds cost the healthcare industry over $50 billion a year according to Healogics.
Non-healing wounds affect approximately 6.7 million people in the U.S. and the amount is expected to rise at a rate of two percent annually over the next decade. An aging population and increasing rates of diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and vascular disease, contribute to the chronic wound epidemic. If left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life and possible amputation of the affected limb according to Healogics. Approximately 30 percent of untreated chronic wounds result in amputation. Five years’ post-amputation the mortality rate is 50 percent.
The collaborative specialty care clinic partners below are working to create a better state of health for Arkansas. With better data exchange such as admission, discharge and transfer (ADT) information, laboratory results, radiology reports, pathology reports, progress notes, discharge summaries, vitals, allergies, diagnosis and conditions are assisting care teams across Arkansas in better care coordination and transitions of care.
- Arkansas Children's Hospital Burn and Wound Care Clinic in Little Rock
- Arkansas Children's Northwest- Endocrine Clinic in Springdale
- CHI St. Vincent Wound Care Center – Hot Springs
- Conway Regional Wound Healing Center in Conway
- Magnolia Regional Medical Center Surgical/Wound Care Center in Magnolia
- North Arkansas Regional Medical Center Wound Care Clinic in Harrison
- NEA Baptist Clinic Wound Care – Windover Clinic in Jonesboro
- Stone County Medical Center Wound Center in Mountain View
- Saline Memorial Wound Healing Center in Benton
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Endocrine/Podiatry Clinic in Little Rock
- White River Medical Center Wound Healing Center in Batesville
- Wound Care Center at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff
Continued collaboration with the Statewide Health Information Exchange reflects that coordinated care is extending across a much wider spectrum of facilities than ever before. SHARE’s mission is to provide better information to support high quality patient care for the State’s health care community. By increasing data in the health information exchange (HIE), SHARE supplies a more comprehensive health care picture to a patient’s treating physician and care team.
