[Cost-effectiveness in wound care]

Abstract

Introduction: In Germany, treatment costs for pressure ulcer, diabetic foot ulcer and ulcus cruris sum up to Euro 5 billion p. a. (cost of materials only). The question is to be answered how much money could be saved to sick funds, if the treatment is switched from traditional wound care, e. g. hydro-colloids to Vacuum Assisted Closure (V.A.C.).

Methods: Clinical studies are analysed with regard to complication rates and speed of wound healing V.A.C. vs. traditional. Daily costs and the length of treatment are then correlated and compared.

Results: V.A.C. therapy significantly reduces the time for the wound closing process, hospital admissions and complication rates. Despite higher daily treatment costs (cost of material, only), the V.A.C. therapy turns out to be the superior cost-effective method by far. Assumed V.A.C. therapy substitutes other methods by 50 %, sick funds could have saved Euro 0.7 billion p. a.

Discussion: The V.A.C. related saving potential is not available to sick funds because the approval process for home care use is still (Jan 2006) ongoing since 1999. The improvement of the relevant decision making process is strongly required to faster provide better care and savings at the same time.