(Toronto, Canada) - Recognized as an originator of the specialized practice of wound care, Robert Warriner, III, M.D., today received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS).
As Chief Medical Officer of Diversified Clinical Services, Inc.*, Warriner leads a team that trains over 800 new physicians and allied health professions each year, making DCS the largest wound care educator in the world. For nearly 20 years, Warriner has guided the care of nearly 1 million patients and treatment of about 2 million wounds. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Warriner as a well-known and accomplished physician in the field of wound care.
"Dr. Warriner is a highly respected and published expert in wound care and hyperbaric medicine. Dr. Warriner's leadership has been a major contributor to the company's success and reputation in the field," said Jeff Nelson, CEO of Diversified Clinical Services. "By developing our comprehensive and proprietary Clinical Practice Guidelines, Dr. Warriner has championed an evidence-based approach to treating problem wounds. This has resulted in a nearly 90 percent healing rate in the 140,000 wound patients treated at DCS centers each year. "
Nearly 7 million Americans suffer from hard-to-heal wounds. Chronic wounds can come from a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes, circulatory disorders and latent effects of radiation.
"Dr. Warriner is part of a highly esteemed group of healthcare professionals who have made significant contributions in the field of wound care," said Professor R. Gary Sibbald, Meeting Chair and President-elect, WUWHS. "His work in the area of diabetic foot ulcers has resulted in important advancements in treatment protocols and improved patient outcomes. We are pleased to be able to honor him at this Congress."
"I have seen thousands of patients whose wounds persisted for several months even years, and eventually threatened their limbs and their lives," says Warriner. "In the early years of specialized wound care, many of the advanced modalities were not covered by Medicare and private insurance."
A strong advocate for coverage of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatments for diabetic foot ulcers, Warriner provided Medicare with evidence-based research that demonstrated the effectiveness of HBO treatments on diabetic foot ulcers. As a result, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) designated diabetic foot ulcers as an approved indication for HBO treatment in 2002 and private insurance carriers began providing coverage shortly thereafter.
Establishing another wound care precedent, CMS recently announced that, effective October 1, 2008, it will no longer reimburse hospitals for certain wounds that are "hospital acquired conditions" in part because "stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers after admission" are "reasonably preventable through application of evidence-based guidelines."
Again, Warriner and his team are collaborating with hospitals to prepare for the new CMS regulation and enhance the prevention and care of pressure ulcers.
"During the past 20 years, I have been honored to be among the clinicians who have advanced the practice of wound care, "says Warriner. "Collectively, our work has resulted in improved patient outcomes. Healing long-term wounds enables patients to get back to living their lives…and that is remarkably rewarding."
About Diversified Clinical Services
Diversified Clinical Services is a privately held company based in Jacksonville, Florida. Partnering with about 300 hospitals nationwide to primarily provide outpatient wound care, DCS offers a range of services to prevent and heal wounds. Located in 41 states nationwide, DCS, with its affiliated companies, has been the leader in wound prevention and care for nearly 20 years. Having treated 1 million patients and nearly 2 million wounds, DCS offers hospitals comprehensive programs and advanced therapies to heal wounds, save limbs and help people return to living their lives. More information is available at www.diversifiedclinicalservices.com.
About The Wound Union of Wound Healing Societies
The WUWHS is a consortium of associations of health care professionals with a single mission: to enhance the lives of persons with wounds worldwide with an emphasis on developing countries. The executive team of the WUWHS includes opinion leaders in wound care from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States. Every four years, the WUWHS brings together different disciplines, different cultures and nationalities working toward a universal solution to improve patient outcomes.
*DCS and its affiliated companies