WHY USE HBO AND WOUND CARE CONSULTING SERVICES? 

Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine consulting services are a collaborative effort between both parties in the development, coordination and operation of wound care and hyperbaric services. Wound Care and Hyperbaric consulting companies (e.g., MidWest Hyperbarics, LLC) provide value by utilizing their experience and expertise when guiding client partners with essential steps in designing and building a compliant wound care program. That guidance is determined by their client partner’s vision and preferred operating model.  

When evaluating and deciding on the appropriate model, it is useful to identify and define what outcome is desired to determine success. Does the service focus on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, wound care or both? Practice experience would suggest that “it is possible to operate a successful cost neutral wound care program without hyperbaric services, but it is extremely difficult to operate and maintain a successful hyperbaric service without an associated wound care program”. As well, successful hyperbaric medicine programs depend on referrals from both outpatient and inpatient wound care services.

Successful Wound Care and Hyperbaric Programs are integrated, cohesive and function cooperatively to deliver optimal patient care. This is achieved through education of internal healthcare professionals, the medical community and support staff.  

Consultants are typically utilized in:

• Development and start-up of a new program
• Provide support to a Wound Care Program adding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 
• Transition away from a program previously operated by a management company
• Existing Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine program support
• Chart Auditing for Medical Necessity

TYPES OF ENGAGEMENT

New Facility Start-up Services or the addition of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Consultants will assist the Institution by providing guidance and operational support for the development of wound care and hyperbaric medicine services. The consultant provides oversight throughout development and the initiation of daily operations to ensure implementation and adherence to policies and procedures. A consultant functions as a contributing member of the program development team by participating in management decisions that impact the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Service.  

Management Transition Services

Assistance with transition from a management controlled program to an in-house, facility operated, service is highly recommended. This systematic process begins prior to notifying the management company of the termination of the existing contract. A consultant functions as a contributing member of the Transition Team by participating in management decisions that impact the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Service.  

Existing Program Support Services

Consultants utilize their expertise and experience to ensure that the existing program meets regulatory compliance requirements and functions at the highest level of industry standard. This should be a systematic analysis of areas identified as critical components to the safe, appropriate, and effective operation of the wound care and hyperbaric facility. The consultant should function as a contributing member of the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Team by participating in management decisions. 

Medical billing and reimbursement is the portion of the hyperbaric medicine service that will either improve or obstruct the revenue of your program. The coding and billing for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a process that has been scrutinized in recent years by the Office of Inspector General (OIG). This information is provided to illustrate the diligence that must be given to hyperbaric billing and reimbursement. Consulting services are an invaluable resource with with coding, daily charge control, claims submission, as well as appeals process support.

Utilization of consultants is a cost-effective resource. Ideally, the consulting service should be cognizant of the budgetary and fiscal challenges healthcare facilities withstand while continuously monitoring Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society activities as well as CMS regulatory directives pertaining to wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to ensure that program operations are compliant. To that point, consulting service options should be designed to meet the individual fiscal needs, contractual length (terms) and operational needs of the client partner.

Consultative service(s) should be capable of providing the following