Canadian Approach To Wound Care Serves As International Mode

A made-in-Canada approach to wound care pioneered by clinical researchers from Women's College Hospital is serving as a model for international health care providers. Prof. Gary Sibbald, Director of Women's College Hospital's Wound Healing Clinic, is today's keynote speaker at the Third Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies.

He presents his model of evidence-based care to this conference of health care providers from around the globe taking place this week at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. "As our population ages, it's vitally important that we look at ways to provide even better care for patients suffering from wounds as a result from local excess skin pressure or other medical conditions," said Prof. Sibbald. "By sharing best practices, Women's College Hospital is hoping to provide a model that can be applied in other countries to help sufferers heal better and reduce the incidence of amputations." Chronic wounds are a common affliction in older patients, affecting the quality of life of sufferers and constituting a significant burden on the health care system.

Experts estimate Ontario's health care system can save up to $338 million in direct medical costs with the implementation of an interprofessional team approach to wound care, promoting faster healing and reducing infections and amputations for persons with diabetes-related foot ulcers. Prof. Sibbald's approach to wound care is an anchor for discussion and debate at the conference. At the same time, Women's College Hospital is a partner in the launch of "Woundpedia" - a new online resource that will collect and catalogue information related to wound care. The principal audience will be health care professionals with an interest in wound care including physicians, nurses and rehabilitation specialists. The website will also be accessible to the general public.