Power through Standards: The Federal Conference for Outcome Measurement and Benefit Assessment of chronic Wounds

Background: When concerning documentation and follow up measurement for chronic wounds, uniform standards are a vital precondition for further development of care in Germany. The Federal Consensus Conference "Outcome Measurement and Benefit Assessment for Chronic Wounds" has taken action and has approved systematic recommendations including small data records since 2013. Aim: In the following review rationales, objectives, methods and action outcomes of the Federal Consensus Conference are summarized. Results: Experts from more than 25 different scientific expert associations, professional associations, organizations specialized in care, representatives of statutory health insurance companies as well as the Federal Ministry of Health participated in the consensus formation. From 2013-2015 a total of eight consensus meetings as well as six online consensus enquiries were agreed upon. These entailed a) the relevant subject areas for consensus formation, b) the necessary standards for wound documentation, c) recommendations concerning the enquiries on quality of life for people with chronic wounds, d) recommendations for minimal clinically relevant differences, e) standards on utilization of secondary data and f) recommendations for health-economic analytics of ulcus cruris. The first four publications concerning this topic were finalized. Conclusions: The combination of personal attendance meetings and online enquiries with a broad panel of experts has proved to be an efficient tool for consensus formation regarding the documentation criteria and outcome criteria for chronic wounds using the example of ulcus cruris. The present results are subject of an active implementation in 2016/2017 and at the same time provide a chance for an improved process-and result quality concerning nationwide care.