How Wound Care Programs Support Diabetes Management in Long Term Care

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in long term care settings, and it brings a complex web of challenges that impact every aspect of patient care. Among these, wound care is one of the most urgent, costly, and underestimated. But when managed well, wound care becomes a powerful lever to improve diabetic outcomes and reduce complications across the board.

The Overlap of Diabetes and Chronic Wounds In long term care, diabetes is not just another diagnosis. It’s a driver of comorbidities, a risk multiplier, and a predictor of outcomes. One of its most dangerous complications is the development of chronic wounds, especially diabetic foot ulcers. These wounds:

• Are slow to heal due to impaired circulation and neuropathy

• Frequently become infected, leading to hospitalization

• Are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the U.S.
  

Left untreated or improperly managed, these wounds can spiral into sepsis, extended inpatient stays, and death. The wound is rarely just a skin issue; it’s often a signal of deeper metabolic instability. The Cost of Inaction Wounds in diabetic patients aren’t just painful, they’re expensive. The average cost of treating a single diabetic foot ulcer can exceed $20,000. Add in costs from complications, emergency transport, or amputation, and it becomes a significant financial burden for both the facility and the healthcare system.

But beyond financials, there is a human toll: loss of mobility, depression, social isolation, and diminished quality of life. Wound-related complications are one of the top contributors to hospital readmissions among diabetic patients in skilled nursing facilities.

Proactive Wound Care as a Diabetes Management Strategy

Facilities that integrate wound care into the broader diabetes management framework see better outcomes. Here’s how:

1. Early Identification and Diagnosis: Having a dedicated wound care provider allows for consistent skin assessments and earlier recognition of pre-ulcerative conditions. Patients with sensory loss may not report minor injuries that escalate quickly. Trained providers catch these signs during routine rounds before they become catastrophic.

2. Specialized Treatment Modalities

Advanced wound care providers use evidence-based tools such as:

• Debridement

• Offloading techniques

• Negative pressure wound therapy

• Specialized dressings

• Infection control strategies tailored to diabetic physiology
  

These interventions help shift wounds out of the chronic inflammatory phase and promote actual healing.

3. Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Wound care doesn’t exist in a vacuum. A strong program builds bridges across departments:

• Dietary: Ensures glycemic-friendly nutrition supports wound healing

• Nursing: Maintains dressing protocols and monitors drainage or infection

• Podiatry: Supports biomechanical interventions to prevent recurrence

• Primary Care/Endocrinology: Manages glucose levels and medication side effects

  
  

With proper coordination, wound care becomes an extension of chronic disease management, rather than a separate crisis response.

4. Data-Driven Monitoring and Documentation

Wound care specialists bring structure to documentation. They help track healing progress, identify patterns in ulcer recurrence, and contribute to the medical record in a way that supports:

• Risk management

• Care planning

• MDS coding

• Star rating performance
  

Proper documentation helps facilities demonstrate quality and secure appropriate reimbursement.

Benefits to the Facility

Adding wound care expertise does more than just improve patient outcomes. It also:

• Reduces avoidable hospitalizations and associated penalties

• Enhances CMS star ratings and quality measures

• Improves staff education and confidence in managing complex patients

• Positions the facility as a proactive, high-quality care provider to referral sources

• Lowers liability exposure by ensuring wounds are actively and expertly managed

Why Now Is the Time

With CMS shifting to value-based purchasing and the rise of accountable care models, every admission, every outcome, and every readmission matters. Diabetic wound care is a measurable, impactful area to demonstrate your facility’s clinical competence.

The question isn’t can we afford to prioritize wound care. Iit’s can we afford not to?

Skilled Wound Care partners directly with long term care and skilled nursing facilities nationwide to bring expert wound care physicians to the bedside. Our physicians specialize in managing diabetic wounds and chronic ulcers, delivering hands-on care, thorough documentation, and consistent follow-up.

We help bridge the gap between chronic disease and wound care, ensuring that diabetic residents receive the specialized support they need.

Looking to improve your diabetic care outcomes? Partner with us. Contact our team today to learn more about our bedside wound care services or to request a physician for your facility.