WHS Session H: WOUND HEALING FOUNDATION – WHF-MEDLINE CORIUS INNOVATION LECTURE - Inhibition of Pressure Ulcers Development with Nanosilk

Inhibition of Pressure Ulcers Development with Nanosilk
The fastest growing segment of our population is those over 65 years of age. In the US, the number of people older than 65 years is estimated to reach 71 million in 2030. In addition, the combination of aging and the increased rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease has led to more patients with decreased mobility and the need of assistance in their daily activities. A major morbidity of decreased mobility is the development of pressure ulcers (PU). PU take a long time to heal and the treatment is costly for both the patient and healthcare system. In the US, PU cost an estimated $11 billion dollars every year, with up to $70,000 being spent on a single wound. In addition, the term "never event" is commonly applied to PU, perpetuating the impression that they are always associated with medical error. The Center for Medicaid and State Operations (CMS) announced that Medicare will no longer pay the extra cost of treating PU stages 3 and 4 that occur while the patient is in the hospital. PU add on average at least $700 per ulcer to Medicare hospital payments. In order to help patients have a better quality of life and reduce the burden of PU, we’ve developed a nanosilk-based medical device that is low cost, easy to use, and has a great potential to prevent the development of PU.