Survey Reveals Insight into Simplifying Wound Care

       A recent survey of wound care clinicians showed that selecting the most cost-effective wound dressing and managing exudate are the biggest issues they face when treating a wound. Sponsored by 3M^TM Health Care, the survey was conducted by HMP Communications, the publisher of ECPN, WOUNDS, and Ostomy Wound Management. Results offer insight into the biggest issues faced by wound care providers today and how the overall job of wound care may be simplified for clinicians.
       Choosing the appropriate wound care products from the many choices available is important to simplifying care. When considering product choice for optimal wound care, the survey showed:
• Nearly 70% of respondents feel that in terms of simplifying the job of wound care, it is extremely important to have compatible products available that work well together
• 34% of respondents reported they sometimes find it confusing to choose the right product for a patient
• Nearly 94% consider effectiveness extremely important when choosing a product
• More than 90% of survey respondents felt it was extremely or somewhat important to have trust in the company whose wound care product they use.
       In addition, the survey showed that wound care providers view the availability of cutting-edge products as important to simplifying the job of wound care. In fact, more than 97% feel it is important or extremely important for wound dressings to incorporate the latest in wound care technologies. More than 90% feel that, generally speaking, it is important or extremely important for wound dressings to be based on cutting-edge technology.
       “The survey results reinforce that clinicians are looking for better wound care solutions that can make their jobs easier as they strive for optimal patient outcomes,” says Kristen Comstock, marketing manager for 3M Health Care. “At 3M, we are dedicated to providing highly effective wound care solutions that are easy to use.”
       Survey findings show that successful wound care depends most importantly on clinically effective and cost-efficient, state-of-the-art, compatible products that enable clinicians to focus on successful patient outcomes. The Tegaderm^TM line of products from 3M offers a variety of wound dressings that help to simplify the job of wound care. 3M^TM Skin Health is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for wound care providers and developing simple, dependable, and trusted products on which clinicians can rely.
       For more information, visit www.3m.com/tegaderm.

3S Appoints Director, Marketing Services

       3S, the full-service consulting and professional search firm specializing in the wound and skin care industry, recently announced the appointment of Thomas M. Gillespie to the position of Director, Marketing Services.
       “Tom will be responsible for leading the firm’s marketing related engagements,” says Stephen M. Cea, the firm’s founder and president. “Tom brings close to 20 years of successful wound and skin care industry experience to the 3S consulting team. His extensive marketing experience and knowledge of the industry strengthens our ability to provide clients with the strategic solutions necessary for their success in this dynamic market.”
       Prior to joining 3S, Gillespie enjoyed a successful career with Mölnlycke Health Care, where he was responsible for the US marketing efforts of Mölnlycke’s entire wound care product line, including Safetac^®. Gillespie was also the US representative to Mölnlycke’s Global Brand team in Göteborg, Sweden.
       Prior to his marketing career with Mölnlycke, Gillespie held positions of increasing responsibility within the sales and marketing organizations of Dumex Medical, HMP Communications, Beiersdorf-Jobst, and Calgon Vestal Laboratories.
       For more information, call 215-369-9813 or visit www.woundcareconsulting.com.

CMS Announces Steps to Improve Access to Consumer-Directed Medicare Health Plans

       The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces new steps to provide beneficiaries with access to coverage through consumer-directed health plans in the Medicare Advantage programs in 2007. In addition to new Medical Savings Account (MSA) coverage, beneficiaries will have access to coverage with additional features similar to health savings accounts (HSAs) through a demonstration program that permits Medicare Advantage organizations to offer more flexible accounts.
       Until now, the increasingly popular HSA-type plans have not been available to persons with Medicare. The increased interest in HSAs among both individuals and employers has generated market interest for vendors.
       “Along with HMOs, PPOs, and private fee-for-service plans, Medicare is aiming to provide a full range of coverage options so that our beneficiaries can get the coverage they prefer at the lowest possible cost,” says Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt.
       In an MSA, Medicare pays for a high-deductible health insurance plan for beneficiaries who enroll, and it puts money in an account established for the beneficiary, generally at the beginning of the year. This money and any earnings on this money are tax-free for the beneficiary as long as he or she uses it to purchase allowable healthcare. After the deductible is met in a given year, Medicare-covered services are covered by the health insurance plan. Amounts not used in one year remain in the account for use in a future year for payment of qualified medical expenses, even if the beneficiary is no longer in a high deductible health plan.
       The demonstration solicitation includes HSA-type products for individual Medicare beneficiaries and products for employers who are now offering HSA plans to their pre-Medicare employees and retirees. While Medicare’s total payment to the plans will remain the same as under current rules for Medicare Advantage MSA plans, improvements and alternative benefit designs could make these plans more attractive to Medicare beneficiaries and, therefore, to organizations to offer them.
       For more information and/or to access the MSA demonstration, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareAdvantageApps/02_Final%202007%20Applications.asp.