V.A.C. Therapy Economic Value
Effective wound management is vital to positive patient outcomes, reduced healthcare expenditures and effective resource utilization. Clinically proven wound closure using V.A.C.® Therapy not only helps improve patient outcomes, it can help facilities and payors lower their overall cost of care.
The V.A.C. Therapy body of evidence is one of the most substantial in the wound care industry . Studies have shown that V.A.C. Therapy can cost significantly less than standard treatment modalities for a wide range of acute, chronic and traumatic wounds across all care settings when looking at overall cost of care, the true indicator of healthcare savings.
As with all study related data, outcomes for specific patients or at an individual institution may vary; however, based on clinical outcomes reported in randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized comparative studies, the use of V.A.C. Therapy has been associated with the following positive effects in patients studied:
Wound Healing with Demonstrated Cost Effectiveness
Please click below for information about specific studies and outcomes.
Reduced length of stay
1-5
Reduced overall medical costs
1,2,3,6,7
Reduced hospital staff time
3,6,8,9
Reduced need for outpatient visits
8
Reduced need for emergency care or readmission
10,11
Lower incidence of amputations in patients with diabetic foot ulcers, based on a 1-2 year review of payer claims data
14
Reduced risk for other surgical procedures in open foot wounds for patients observed during a 2-year period
11,15,16
Recent Randomized Controlled Trials for Diabetic Foot Ulcers & Amputations:
Please click below for information about specific studies and outcomes.
Reduced relative risk of secondary amputations in patients with diabetic foot and partial diabetic foot amputation wounds at the end of a 4-month active treatment phase
12,13
Higher number of patients achieving complete wound closure at the end of a 4-month active treatment phase
12,13
Lower cost of care due to fewer surgical procedures, dressing changes and outpatient visits
8
Reported V.A.C. Therapy Savings
| Chronic Wounds | Savings |
|---|---|
| Pressure ulcers | $8,919 |
| Diabetic foot ulcers (in Home Health) | $11,958 |
| Diabetic foot amputations | $9,915 |
| Traumatic Wounds | Savings |
|---|---|
| Open abdomen management | $31,000 |
| Orthopedic trauma split thickness skin grafts | $950 |
For additional information, or to speak with a member of the KCI Health Economics team, please send an email to HealthEconomics@kci1.com
You can also view titles of published data that demonstrates the positive clinical and financial outcomes associated with V.A.C. Therapy.