Prevention is worth a pound of cure. Just ask Maria Jones, registered nurse and wound care specialist who’s overseeing a pilot program at GBHS for diabetic patients that reduces the risk of amputations. Referred to as Foot Offloading, the program is aimed at healing diabetic foot ulcers, which can be painful and hard to heal.
Maria knows how true that is from personal experience. Her father, a diabetic, had foot ulcers that ultimately led to an amputation 30 years ago.
The patients come in every week for eight to 10 weeks and the orthopedic techs give them a new cast. It takes a team of health professionals to care and check on their progress, including follow-up on blood sugar levels and diet.
Maria said the casts “have always been the gold standard” for preventing foot ulcers, and can cost about $1,000 per patient over the ten weeks of use (paid by the pilot project).