Treating the whole person, not just the hole in the person

November 1, 2019 7:04 am

Wounds can impact on the wellbeing and independence of people living in their own homes, and if not treated correctly, or monitored appropriately, they can result in complications that may lead to hospitalisation, residential care… or worse.

With a growing ageing population a professional and holistic approach to wound care is required with the increase of chronic diseases, chronic wounds are becoming more prevalent.

Most wounds heal without complication, however, some, particularly those in older people, are subject to factors that can impede healing. Accurate assessment is one of the most important steps in successful wound management, and we take into consideration a range of patient and wound-related factors in determining the best course of treatment and management.

For our client, we consider such factors as their age and level of mobility, wound history, cognitive issues, medications, other medical conditions such as diabetes, vascular and heart disease, issues with circulation and obesity, as well as diet, nutrition, hydration, and other lifestyle factors.

We also consider the nature of the wound, and regularly monitor and asses how the wound is progressing to determine management options.

The challenge is to ensure that a careful and holistic assessment is undertaken, so that factors that might possibly impact on healing can be identified as early as possible, and corrected or managed appropriately to improve wound healing outcomes.

McLean Care® is currently assessing some very innovative, “Industry Gold Standard” tools that are available that are tailored to, and would assist, our wound management team to improve wound healing outcomes for our clients through consistent, efficient and effective assessment and treatment.

We are always looking for ways to improve the way we care for our community to ensure that they receive the very best care and support available.