SY09       Title: Wound Care Across Settings: Optimizing Quality, Continuity, and Cost Effectiveness Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Type: SYMP-EDUCATIONAL Level: - Track: - Sponsor(s): National Healing Speaker(s): Robert S. Kirsner Non-healing wounds are the most costly of all skin diseases, affect upwards of 6 million Americans and direct costs to the health care delivery system are more than $10 billion. By example, diabetic foot ulcers, account for a disproportionate amount hospital days, are the leading risk factor for amputation and a typical single episode of care costs between $8,000 and $50,000.  This session will focus on the care of patients with chronic wounds, understanding high risk wounds in terms of etiology and likelihood of healing and optimizing outcomes through the use of standardized protocols, specialty care and rationale use of resources. Objectives: Explore correct diagnosis of chronic wounds.   Assess evidenced-based care of chronic wounds.   Interpret how to predict healing of chronic wounds.   Review triage of hard to heal wounds to appropriate care.