Compression Therapy Wrap System for Lower Extremity Edema

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Introduction: Compression therapy is the standard of care for the treatment of lower extremity edema. However, compression therapy systems can be time-consuming to apply, which adds costs to the health care system and further strains human resources.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess time and labor costs associated with the application of a 2LB versus 4LB compression therapy system.

Materials and Methods: Time and labor cost data associated with the application of a 2LB system for the treatment of lower extremity edema of all etiologies were collected from a single high-volume wound care center located in Dayton, Ohio. The time and labor costs were compared to a 4LB system over the course of a single day (n = 38).

Results: The application time and associated costs were 50% lower for the 2LB system. The expected savings of a 2LB compression system over the course of a month was 16:27 hours and $427 compared to a 4LB compression system, and the revenue gain was estimated at $15 210 revenue per month over the course of the month for the practice.

Conclusion: The use of a 2LB compression system may be associated with substantial time and cost savings compared to a 4LB system.

Introduction

The prevalence of lower extremity edema of all etiologies is nearly 20% among those over age 65 in the United States.^[1] Patients experience significant pain, difficulty walking, and other physical impairments. The health care burden of managing lower extremity edema is nearly $5 billion per year or $7679 per treated patient per year.^[2] This includes primary care visits, hospitalizations, wound care, and medication costs. While multilayer compression therapy is the standard of care for the management of lower-extremity edema, previous studies have noted that compression bandage systems can be time-consuming to apply and patient adherence is often poor.^[3,4] However, these studies have not quantified the application time of compression bandage systems. A 2LB system has been shown to achieve similar or better outcomes and may increase adherence compared to a 4LB bandage system due to improved patient comfort.^[5–7] However, the comparative medical time and labor costs associated with the application of 2LB and 4LB systems are unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the time and labor costs associated with the application of a 2LB versus 4LB compression therapy system.