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¶ … Standard of Care in Place for Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Long-Term Care Patients
Known as "the silent killer" because its symptoms can go undiagnosed until the condition becomes deadly, diabetes mellitus remains a major public health care threat in the United States today. One of the more common afflictions that is suffered by people with diabetes mellitus is foot ulcers, a problem that can result in the need for amputation or even more severe clinical outcomes including death. To determine why there should be a standard of care in place for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in long-term care patients, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature, followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning diabetic foot ulcers in the conclusion.
Review and Analysis
The Significance of the Problem and How Addressing the Issue will Contribute to Society
There has been growing concern among practitioners in the health care community about the persistent prevalence of diabetes mellitus and on identifying preventive protocols for foot ulcers for patients in long-term care settings (Fidler, 2009). Addressing this problem can contribute to American society by improving the quality of life of foot ulcer sufferers and by reducing the economic toll the condition exacts on the health care system. For instance, during...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that these figures have continued to increase each year since that time (Fidler, 2009). In 1998, there were approximately 15.7 million people (59%) in the United States with diabetes but the CDC also projects that at least another 5.3 million people have diabetes but remain undiagnosed (Fidler, 2009). In this regard, Fidler concludes that diabetes is a "silent killer" that is "of great concern due to the number of complications, including a variety of diabetic foot problems, that can afflict this group of patients" (2009, p. 35).
Impact that Improving this Problem Would Have on Professional Practice
There should be a standard of care in place for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in long-term care patients because improving this problem would improve the quality of life for diabetic foot ulcer sufferers and reduce the comorbidities that are associated with the condition (Prentice & Ritchie, 2011). In this regard, Fidler (2009) advises that effective standards of care for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can improve the following: (a) the patients' quality of life, (b) infection control, (c) prevention of amputation, (d) reduction in healthcare…
References
Ebersole, P. & Hess, P. (1999). Toward healthy aging: Human needs and nursing response. St.
Louis, MO: Mosby.
Fidler, B.D. (2009, August 19). Diabetic foot care. Drug Topics, 146(16), 34-39.
Prentice, D. & Ritchie, L. (2011, December 1). A case management experience: Implementing best practice guidelines in the community. Care Management Journals, 12(4), 150-155.
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