Wound Technology Network Named 'Enterprise All-Star' By NetworkWorld News for Wireless Technology and Telemedicine Applications
Posted on: Tuesday, 10 October 2006, 09:00 CDT
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Wound Technology Network (WTN), the nation's leading provider of remote wound care services to the healthcare industry, has been recognized by NetworkWorld News in its second-annual "Enterprise All-Star Award" program. The honor comes on the heels of WTN winning the prestigious QUALCOMM 2006 3G A-List(TM) Award last month in recognition of its business and technical innovation.
WTN earned its distinction as a 2006 Enterprise All-Star for its novel use of telemedicine applications and wireless technology as well as for creating a mobility-enabled business. As a physician group practice and management company, WTN utilizes the latest remote technology to bring specialized wound care to doctors' offices, hospitals, skilled nursing/assisted living facilities and private homes. By doing so, WTN provides a high level of live interactive video and audio data sharing of patient information to on-location wound care specialists for patients anytime, anywhere.
Health plans availing themselves of this service have witnessed improved outcomes, decreased time to healing, increased member satisfaction and significant dollar savings. "By providing consistent clinical care via its network, WTN has reduced the typical patient-healing time by 50 percent, cut down on patient readmissions by 95 percent, and successfully treats patients 91 percent of the time," says George Pollack, chief operating and technology officer.
Wound care is a $30 billion industry, accounting for about 5 percent of U.S. healthcare costs, yet according to Pollack "the treatment of wounds has never been very efficient. Our system makes it more consistent and more effective." Statistics support his claim.
On average, participating health plans have seen a lowering of their patient care costs by up to 75 percent, thanks in great part to a 40 percent decrease in interventions, a 75 percent decrease in amputations, and a 95 percent decline in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In addition to the dollar savings, patients tracked over the past six years have experienced fewer infections and have reduced -- or in some cases totally eliminated -- the need for both home healthcare visits and outpatient hospital-based wound care centers. With healing time cut in half thanks to WTN technology, plans are also reporting greater member satisfaction and improved patient compliance.
"As the population ages, the number of patients requiring wound treatments is increasing significantly," says Jeffrey Galitz, M.D., chief executive officer and chief medical officer at WTN. According to Dr. Galitz, treating a simple cut is fairly easy, but providing services for complex wounds or treating someone with diabetes can be difficult and expensive. Often, generalists who work at emergency rooms, clinics or doctors' offices end up treating such wounds and, consequently, the effectiveness of treatment has been scattershot and patients often take longer to heal than necessary or develop other problems such as infections.
WTN addresses this by developing the world's largest wound-care database, containing 75 data points on 200,000 treatment types, where best practices can be tracked and followed. In addition, WTN's 41 healthcare providers consult with one another via voice or multimedia Web conferences. During each procedure, they can connect to the company's call center and talk to fellow healthcare practitioners about each patient's diagnosis and treatment.
"We see our work serving as a model for other healthcare providers," says Pollack. "To date, telemedicine applications have focused on serving rural areas, but we believe the potential benefits are just as significant, perhaps even more significant, in densely populated urban areas."
Founded in 1999, WTN employs specialists including: surgeons, physicians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified wound specialists and patient care coordinators that work in collaboration to provide care. The company currently serves Florida, California, and Nevada and is currently developing networks in 10 key states. Further information may be obtained at http://www.woundtech.net/.
Wound Technology Network
CONTACT: Ross Goldberg, +1-818-597-8453, ross@kevinross.net, for WoundTechnology Network
Web site: http://www.woundtech.net/
Source: PRNewswire
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