Need wound vac advice/program.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I have been exposed to wound vac's for hard to heal and/or irregular wounds for several years now. I happen to love them, see show wonderful the wounds heal, how quickly and more importantly, how much faster the patient is healed. Recently, I find myself working at a facility that does little to no use of these machines. I have seen several terrible wounds that I am sure could have been healed quicker, neater, and with less expense in supplies if a wound vac had been used. I have also seen the wound manager used on wounds with a high volume of drainage but in areas where a good seal could be obtained. I feel that many of these patients are not being treated in a top level way.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to approach the wound care nurse and others in management on getting wound vac's at least considered for use on wounds at this facility. They use SCD's, and other, newer equiptment but not would vac's. I am stumped, I have mentioned wound vac's only to be glared at by other nurses. Please give me some input.

[letina]

Cost could be an issue. Not sure about in the US but here in the UK we have to hire the machines from the manufacturer and it costs £400 per machine per day, that's around $700

[suzanne4, RN]

Best way would be to contact the rep in your area and have them contact the appropriate peole in your facility. They may also have other items in their line that your facility may want to consider if the Wound Vac cost is considered too expensive.

But with the DRGs here, sometimes the higher cost doesn't matter when you can get the patient home sooner. I am currently at a county facility, and we use them if they are needed.