DAK offer: Chronic wounds heal faster

13.11.2015 14:12

Advice from specially trained wound experts is intended to improve the treatment of people with chronic wounds and to network patients, doctors and nursing services. Ten months after the launch of the offer, the health insurance company draws a positive conclusion: chronic wounds heal on average three months faster with targeted treatment. In addition, the costs of patient care fall by ten percent, says the DAK.

In Germany, up to 1.5 million people suffer from wounds that do not heal. The average cost per patient and case is 12,000 euros. In addition to motor restrictions, chronic wounds often cause severe pain - the level of suffering is high. “General practitioners and nursing services are often overwhelmed by chronic wounds,” says DAK expert Gabriela Kostka. “That’s why we support not only the patients but also the practitioners with our new wound specialist advice.”

Around 1,600 of the 9,000 affected DAK policyholders have already taken advantage of the offer within the first ten months, and 1,000 more are already being treated in specialized wound centers. They benefited from a networked treatment with modern wound dressings and holistic advice on topics such as nutrition, exercise and care. “Our experience shows that the wounds heal three months faster on average and the number of weekly dressing changes is halved,” says Kostka. “This increases patient satisfaction and at the same time relieves the burden on family doctors.”

The DAK analysis also shows that costs can be reduced by up to ten percent. Networked treatment and targeted information for general practitioners and nursing services would avoid unnecessary prescriptions.