** The wound care burden is enormous and pervasive with more than 7 million Americans suffering from chronic wounds annually. In part, the rise in chronic wounds is due to increasing diabetes which is now 8.3% of the population.

** The co-morbidities with diabetic patients crosses the spectrum of disease states and most striking is that more than 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes. The CDC reports that “comprehensive foot care programs, i.e., that include risk assessment, foot-care education and preventive therapy, treatment of foot problems, and referral to specialists, can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%”.

** The value of comprehensive programs specializing in lower extremity care is real and so is the rising need for more organized advanced programs in every community, town and city. Programs offering a multidisciplinary approach utilizing national best practice standards will draw patients, providers and payers which are key in health care organizations maintaining viability.