Diabetes-Associated Nerve And Circulatory Damage Is The Leading Cause Of Lower Limb Amputations

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 20 Oct 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 82,000 diabetics lose a foot or leg to diabetes each year. As the cases of diabetes climb to epidemic proportions, effective treatment for saving limbs is imperative. Diversified Clinical Services, the nation's leading provider of wound care management services, reports that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has proven to be one of the most promising treatments for healing diabetic foot ulcers and saving limbs.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy uses state-of-the-art pressure vessels called hyperbaric chambers to deliver 100 percent oxygen to speed the healing process. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a Medicare approved treatment for chronic wounds that is covered by most insurers and Diversified Clinical Services experiences healing rates in excess of 85%. Those are dramatic results for a non-invasive therapy and it can mean the difference between maintaining mobility and an active lifestyle, and losing a limb.

As a result, more general practitioners and other physicians now refer their patients to wound care centers for specialized treatment of their non- healing wounds. Diversified Clinical Services will treat approximately 36,000 new wound care patients in 2006 and nearly 50% of all the wounds they treat are diabetes-related. Diversified Clinical Services currently operates nearly 160 wound care centers nationwide and expects to add another 40 by year-end to accommodate increased demand.

Says Jim Henry, Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Clinical Services, "With the growing number of diagnosed diabetics each year, the need for wound care is more important than ever." He added, "With specialized wound care offering treatments like hyperbaric medicine, diabetics have powerful resources to help manage their wounds and help decrease the likelihood of amputation."

Henry continues, "Diversified Clinical Services is a strong supporter of diabetes awareness programs like National Diabetes Month. We provide community education information to help raise awareness of the problems associated with diabetic wounds and the importance of having these wounds treated promptly and effectively."

About Diversified Clinical Services

Diversified Clinical Services manages comprehensive wound care centers at more than 160 contracted hospitals in 36 states nationwide, allowing hospitals to provide a needed, value-added service to a growing patient population. Diversified Clinical Services plans, develops and manages the wound care centers, providing key staff, equipment, implementation guidelines, operating procedures, clinical algorithms, outcomes data tracking systems, education and training, community education, and billing and coding support.

Diversified Clinical Services is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. More information is available at http://www.diversifiedclinicalservices.com.

Diversified Clinical Services
http://www.diversifiedclinicalservices.com