Successful outcomes with the h.e.a.l. program

The successful treatment of acute and chronic wounds can be daunting. In an effort to improve client outcomes and manage spiraling nursing and dressing supply costs, the Community Care Access Centre of Wellington-Dufferin (Canada) implemented the Healing Excellence with Advanced Learning (h.e.a.l.) program in March 2003 as a standardized, evidence-based means of providing wound care to home care clients. While implementation challenges remain and education is ongoing, indepth wound management education and standardization of care have reduced the percentage of patients receiving nonevidence-based wound care and resultant frequent dressing changes. This has enabled the Centre to reallocate 1.5 million dollars from dressing change costs to new nursing initiatives beyond wound care. The initial goals of the program were met. Continuing documentation of its outcomes will help underscore the importance of evidence-based protocols and provider education to the wound healing process.