22 JCN 2020, Vol 34, No 2

This award is in partnership with

Winner: Lymphoedema team, Healogics Wound Healing andLymphoedema Centres (pictured below)

Winner of the 2019 Outstanding Practice in Wound Care Award

The lymphoedema team at Healogics Wound Care and Lymphoedema Centres was selected as winner of the Outstanding Practice in Wound Care Award 2019 due to their introduction of treatment pathways for different types of oedema in relation to compression therapy. This has lead to the development of adapted compression therapy techniques for complex lymphovenous leg ulceration with fibrosed oedema, which have consistently achieved 98–100% patient experience and satisfaction scores, as well as 95% concordance with the treatment pathways.

A number of the nurses have also undergone training in lymphoedema to become hybrid tissue viability and lymphoedema nurses, offering patients with chronic oedema better outcomes and reducing the need for other healthcare professionals to become involved in their care. This has led to an average healing

rate of 90 days for patients with lymphovenous ulcers. They also work with the nine essential steps model, which includes: Assessment of perfusion and oxygenation Controlling oedema, pain and comorbidities Offloading and pressure reduction Looking at the viability of tissue and

tissue type Controlling inflammation, infection and

moisture balance.

The essential steps help in the holistic assessment and review of patients,which has led to a four weekly clinical review of all patients to ensure consistency of healing rates and the development of a clinical database to track all patients’ progress. This allows the team to flag up patients that are not showing signs of improvement or wound reduction at four weeks, and for appropriate referrals or revision of treatment plans to improve outcomes for all patients.

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Thanks to everyone who entered the JCN/GPN Outstanding Practice in Wound Care Award 2019. We received a huge number of entries that demonstrated all the excellent wound care being delivered in the

community around the UK. We asked for entries that showed evidence of making a real difference in wound care, according to the entry criteria, and are pleased to announce that the winner did just that.

As a service provider of wound care and lymphoedema services to the NHS, we are extremely proud of this achievement, as it supports our determination to change conventional practice within the field of leg ulceration. We are privileged to have a brilliant team of motivated, enthusiastic and positive clinicians and administration staff that work together to improve outcomes for our patients.

We are delighted that this award recognises our belief in the importance of a one-stop-shop service model, with hybrid tissue viability and lymphoedema practitioners combining treatment of the lymphatic system and leg ulceration. This has resulted in improved patient outcomes, with average healing rates for our patients with lymphovenous ulceration of 86% at 90 days, and also reduced waiting times and increased efficiency.

Julie Stanton, associate clinical director, Healogics Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Centres commented:

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