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By Jay
Lieberman, DPM The September 2005 APMA News has an interesting article written by Rodney Peele, JD. The article is called "Pay for Performance: Medicare and the Winds of Change". The piece discusses the latest reimbursement trends in healthcare today. The insurance industry is carefully examining new systems which reward physicians for efficiency and high quality care. Medicare and other payers are moving away from a system that pays simply for more services, regardless of their quality or impact on patient care. It is incumbent on all of us, to collectively and individually, think about ways in which we can streamline our services. Leaders in health care are all thinking along these lines. How do we start to work towards this goal? We look at the processes in our practices and the impact they have on our patients and health care as a whole. Even small changes can have a substantial impact.
Amerigel is an extremely effective low cost approach to wound care that is an excellent example of this type of process change. It is readily available to patients and healthcare providers. In my office, I dispense it directly to our patients. We use it not only for general wound care, but also to enhance healing in patients who have undergone matricectomies, laser ablations or electro desiccation procedures. Amerigel Wound Dressing is a hydrogel indicated for stages I-IV pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, diabetic skin ulcers, 1st and 2nd degree burns, post surgical incisions, cuts and abrasions. Hydrogels are water or glycerin based amorphous gels, sheets or gauze. They maintain a moist wound environment, promote granulation, and facilitate autolytic debridement. Rehydrating a wound also aids in decreasing pain.
Amerigel Wound Dressing contains Oak extract (Oakin�), an astringent derived from tannins. This provides antimicrobial, antifungal, and inflammatory properties. Oakin� proliferates proteins to the wound bed and decreases cell membrane permeability. Another ingredient, Meadowsweet extract, is plant derived and yields a natural salicylic aldehyde that provides mild analgesia.
In addition to the original gel product, AMERX also makes a hydrogel saturated gauze dressing. I recommend that you inquire about reimbursement through your regional DMERC fiscal intermediary.
While reading the �Pay for Performance� article in the September 2005 APMA News, go to the back page for additional information about these new dressings. |
