Wounds on wheels: Implementing a specialized wound clinic within an established syringe exchange program in Baltimore, Maryland

N. Robinowitz, M.E. Smith, C. Serio-Chapman, P. Chaulk and K.E. Johnson

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, 2057-2059

Abstract: People who inject drugs (PWID) experience a high incidence of abscesses and chronic wounds. However, many PWID delay seeking care for their wounds. In 2012, the Baltimore Needle Exchange Program (BNEP) in Baltimore, Maryland, partnered with the Johns Hopkins Wound Healing Center to establish a mobile BNEP Wound Clinic. This clinic provided specialized wound care for BNEP patients. In sixteen months, the clinic treated 78 unique patients during 172 visits overall. On average, each visit cost the program $146.45, which was substantially less than clinic-based treatment. This program demonstrates that specialized wound care can be effectively provided through mobile outreach. A community-based service delivery approach might serve as a model for local health departments looking to improve the health of PWID.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; complication; female; human; male; middle aged; Needlestick Injuries; organization and management; outpatient department; preventive health service; program development; substance abuse; United States; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Baltimore; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Needle-Exchange Programs; Needlestick Injuries; Program Development; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302111_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302111

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