The Future of Wound Care: Five Trends for 2024
Written by Lisa Peach
https://www.nethealth.com/blog/the-future-of-wound-care-5-trends-for-2024/
After nearly a decade in the wound care world, I still continue to be amazed, surprised and inspired. It’s been a time I’ve thoroughly enjoyed– getting a front-row seat to innovations, seeing the remarkable commitment of providers, and marveling at the constant effort from all I meet to find ways to do better and more for people with chronic wounds.
As we usher in a new year, it’s evident that the demands on the future of wound care will only grow. Conversations with colleagues at conferences and meetings often revolve around concerns about how to meet growing demands while maintaining the high standards of care that define our profession. The good news is most of us have been looking at what the new year may hold.
We’ve been thinking about the future of wound care and how to meet the challenges ahead. And because the true pulse of the industry lies in the insights shared by those who work tirelessly within it, here is what you’ve told us are the trends you see on the horizon for 2024.
#1. Tapping in to the power of technology to ease provider workloads and improve patient quality of life will increase.
According to the HIMSS Future of Healthcare Report, 80% of healthcare providers plan to increase investment in technology and digital solutions over the next five years. That’s good news for stressed-out providers as a key influencer for tech adoption is its ability to support staff. And that’s a task we can’t ignore.
#2. Advancing health equity will be an industry priority.
Events of the past few years have highlighted the need for health equity to ensure all patients have equal access to high-quality care. According to the American Hospital Association, more than 1,000 hospitals have embarked on a health equity journey over the past few years. Today’s innovative wound care technologies, especially those that patients and providers can access via smartphone, can play a big role in that effort. Because smartphones are easy to use, and available in most households, more patients who live in rural areas or have difficulty getting to a provider can access care through a wound care app.
#3. Embracing AI will help shape the future of wound care.
It’s been both concerning and at times amusing to see the rollercoaster of emotions that AI has produced this year. From “it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread” to “robots will take over the world,” we’re hearing it all. Things are starting to change. By 2025, Zipdo reports that “90% of hospitals will adopt AI-driven technology for remote patient monitoring and early diagnostics.”
#4. Getting serious about documentation to meet CMS clawback initiatives will surge.
Wound documentation, that step that supports the who, what, why and when of wound care is no one’s favorite task; but it must be done. There are many reasons documentation is so critical in wound care, from meeting regulatory demands to ensuring best practices. However, one of the most important (and worrisome) for 2024 will be to meet CMS initiative to “clawback” overpayments.
#5. Improving transitional care services and initiatives will expand.
When it comes to the future of wound care, one of the most common topics we hear at conferences involves finding ways to better manage care transitions from home to hospital to skilled nursing to private practice. Of particular importance is ensuring that specialists and providers are connected at each stage of the care journey so they stay up-to-date on patients’ treatment, progress, needs, etc.
Successful care transitions take a combination of technology, proven processes, and people. Technology provides the solution for quickly and seamlessly gathering and sharing information. Specialty EHRs that sync seamlessly with other systems play a tremendous role in streamlining workflow and getting information in real-time to crucial members of the care team.