Cabra (Córdoba), 24 (Europa Press)
The Delegate of Health and Consuming, María Jesús Botella, Accompanied by the Manager of the South Health Area, Pedro Castro, and the Nursing Director, Antonio del Rosal, Has Presenteed the Care for People with Chronicwers for the Entire Province of Córdoba at the Infanta Margarita Hospital, Hospital, con la creación de una red de maestros nutritivos en úlceras por presión y heridas crónicas complejas.
According to the detailed information by the government delegation in Córdoba in a note, the objective of this network is to strengthen an innovative model to address these pathologies that guarantee homogeneous and efficient care in all health centers. In just the Córdoba guadalquivir district, 800 patients belonging to different clinical management units were treated.
Three years ago, the South Health Management Area of Córdoba (AGSSC) incorporated an advanced practice in complex chronic wounds (EPAHCC), which facilitates a comprehensive approach based on scientific evidence and interdisciplinary coordination. This model has evolved with the creation of a network of references that ensure standardized and efficient care in all health centers in the area.
Chronic wounds, characterized by their low healing tendency due to underlying causes such as systemic diseases or infections, pose a significant public health problem due to their negative impact on patients’ quality of life.
The network of references allows for improved coordination of care and promotes ongoing training among professional nurses. Through meetings and training actions, common protocols have been established to ensure quality and efficient care.
These initiatives also promote health education, health counseling, and preventive measures, key elements in minimizing the impact of these pathologies. In this regard, a training program for wound references has been initiated at the Lucena Health Center.
The standardization of criteria in the use of specific products for chronic wounds is another notable achievement. As a result, a unified Cure products catalog was implemented, reducing prescription variability and optimizing the use of health resources, ensuring that treatments meet international standards and local clinical epidemiology. This model also contributes to cost reduction and healing time, with wound healing now taking an average of 18 days, minimizing complications and improving patients’ quality of life.
The Health Delegate emphasized that «innovation, ongoing training, and interprofessional collaboration can transform a priority public health issue,» adding that «we are building a more humane, efficient, and focused system.»
Patient admission to the unit is facilitated by health professionals such as physician assistants, doctors, or physiotherapists. Patients can also be referred by healthcare professionals, with nurses specializing in complex chronic wounds providing evidence-based care, clinical epidemiology assessment, and quality standards for this clinical practice, ensuring proper use of available resources.
Their skills include acting as consultants for professionals, patients, and family members, as well as their teaching work aimed at expanding their practice to the wider community of physician assistants, advancing in the prevention, management, and recovery of individuals with complex chronic wounds.
The expert medical care network promotes interdisciplinary work and provides a person- and family-centered environment seeking the highest well-being and quality of life. It also promotes autonomy and self-care as pillars for physical and emotional recovery, re-establishing a life project, in addition to contributing to decision-making between professionals and patients.
Patients with pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, ischemic ulcers, neuropathic ulcers (diabetic foot), open surgical wounds requiring secondary intention closure, as well as other chronic ulcers with low prevalence such as calciphylaxis, bulbous epidermis, and neoplastic lesions.
Apuesta por la atención médica
According to the above, Botella has revealed the government of Andalusia’s «commitment» to increasing the number of nurses, as well as the incorporation of specialized physician assistants and advanced practices, «all incorporated since Juanma Moreno’s administration.» In this regard, she recalled that in Andalusia, the ratio of healthcare professionals to 1,000 inhabitants has increased from 4.74 to 5.51 in the last five years, with the addition of 7,886 professionals.
In Córdoba, there were 3,019 healthcare assistants in 2019, and by 2024, there were 3,596, representing a 19.13% increase. In the southern area, there are 27 midwives, eleven at the Infanta Margarita Hospital, eight in Montilla, and eight in primary care, the latter seeing an increase of six in the last five years.
Regarding the management of healthcare assistants in nursing homes, there are four, in addition to a wound care reference assistant, two in advanced diabetes practices, two in ostomy, one in oncology, as well as 15 family and community healthcare assistants, 15 school references, 27 pediatric nurses, and seven mental health nurses.