High Point Regional Health System in High Point, NC had a program specializing in hard-to-heal wounds led by a physician and an enterostomal nurse. However, realizing that between 5 million and 6 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic non-healing wounds and, with the senior population expected to grow, an ad hoc team knew that the need for wound care would increase.

High Point, a shareholder-member hospital of VHA Inc., outsourced its wound program to VHA partner, Curative Health Services, which helped the hospital establish the High Point Wound Care Center. The center has been a success and patient volume has grown, on average, by 15.6 percent per year. In 2002 alone, patient volume increased by 29 percent. Approximately one-third of these patients were new to the High Point Regional Health System and 69 percent of these patients resided outside of High Point’s primary service area.

Financially, the High Point Wound Care Center has exceeded revenue projections as well, paying for itself within six months of operation. In 2002, its net revenues were $2.4 million, with expenses totaling $1.1 million. This provided the VHA shareholder organization with a $1.4 million contribution margin and a 56.9 percent margin on net revenues. The contribution margin comprises net revenue generated by the Wound Care Center in addition to the contribution margin provided by other inpatient and outpatient services of the hospital.

Center needs to grow to meet demand
At the heart of the High Point-Curative alliance was High Point Wound Care Center Medical Director Kenneth Shull, M.D., who championed the program. He contacted Curative, visited a Curative-managed Wound Care Center and, with the company’s help, developed a proposal for the hospital’s board of directors. The board found Curative’s ability to evaluate patient needs, assess market demand, and quantify outcomes very compelling and supported the program.

Through dedicated physicians and nurses, ever-evolving technologies and proven treatment procedures, the center has advanced from a small, home-grown local center to a regional leader specializing in the care of hard-to-heal wounds.

High Point Regional Health System

According to High Point General Surgeon Denny Rodenberg, M.D., "Having a state-of-the-art wound care center right here in High Point fulfills a tremendous need for patients with hard-to-heal wounds that is not met anywhere else in our area."

In addition, High Point’s Wound Care Center has become a center of excellence within the community and surrounding states. Its compassionate and effective treatment of patients has enhanced the hospital’s reputation and perceived quality of care. In 2002, more than 92 percent of patients enrolling in the program and completing treatment at the Wound Care Center were successfully healed within an average of 35 days.

Disciplined approach leads to patient satisfaction
Shull points to Curative’s step-by-step care process as an important reason for High Point’s extraordinary success: "Beyond its world-class treatment procedures, Curative’s data collection and quality assurance processes work to ensure that each patient is advancing through the appropriate pathway. This detailed analysis enables us to immediately alter the course of treatment if the patient is not progressing as expected."

Curative integrates many different medical and treatment specialties to ensure that each patient heals as quickly as possible. Curative’s Wound Management Program is certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation to Healthcare Organizations and applies a clinical pathway across the continuum of care. This interdisciplinary care management approach to wound care, combined with proven treatment procedures, helps prevent recurring wounds and leads to extremely high levels of patient satisfaction. In 2002, the High Point Wound Care Center’s patient satisfaction rate was 91 percent.

Building momentum
High Point Wound Care Center is a prime example of the growing need for wound care management. During its first full year of operation, the center provided care to nearly 300 patients. In 2002, 618 new patients were treated for non-healing wounds.

The center is pleased with Curative because it offers a comprehensive program that includes a well-developed, clinically superlative pathway, an extensive outcome database, reimbursement support, and effective community and medical education that has enabled High Point to exceed its goals every year.

Today, High Point Regional Health System is recognized within the community as a wound care leader. The success of the Wound Care Center has fueled growth throughout the network, improved the system’s competitive position and increased its overall profitability. In addition, the Curative-managed center has provided a revenue and practice-building opportunity for many physicians and clinicians, creating a stronger physician link with the hospital.

More than 2,500 patients have benefited from the High Point Wound Care Center since it began operation in 1996. Over the years, many doctors, nurses and hospital administrators have worked tirelessly to make the center what it is today. Yet, in the end, it can all be traced back to a single physician, Dr. Shull, who had the vision and insight to join Curative in order to create an unequaled program that would satisfy an unmet need, both clinically and financially, within the community. HPN