Summary

Healing a chronic ulceration presents a multifaceted challenge. It requires an initial differentiated clarification of the ulceration entity as the basis for successful treatment. Patience and a corresponding level of patient compliance must be taken into account, as patients are usually showing the signs of a long and difficult ordeal. Socio-economic aspects must also be taken into consideration because treatment costs related to chronic wounds should not to be underestimated, particularly in an increasingly elderly society with an ever increasing life expectancy. The previous factors do not only represent a significant stress on the health system, but also present the treating physician with the conundrum of budgeting for long-term, cost-intensive treatment. The lack of consensus and interdisciplinary guidelines is a hindrance in the management of chronic wounds. In contrast, the wound therapist has an ever-increasing range of modern wound treatments, dressings and bandages as well as technical aids, which, due to their specific characteristics, require differentiated applications. Therefore, a restructuring of chronic wound treatment is necessary. Along with the demands placed on specialist centers, networking of in- and outpatient structures is indispensable for successful wound treatment. In 2010 a comprehensive wound center was established at the university hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf. The main objective is an interdisciplinary healthcare provision for patients with chronic wounds taking patient needs into consideration. In addition to a close collaboration of different healthcare professionals, the department offers inpatient as well as outpatient evidence-based care. Given the excellent cooperation between the outpatient care providers and the nursing services, a multidiscipline wound care management can be guaranteed. In addition the Comprehensive Wound Center focuses on clinical research, basic research and health services research. This holistic approach of wound care management aims at competent, patient-oriented wound treatment and contributes to new research results and insights into evidence-based medicine.