The Nursing Services at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City organizes the "1St Abu Dhabi Wound Care" Conference on 22 November 2008

The Theme of the conference is "One Problem One Voice: Healing, Educating, Learning, and Preventing Diabetic foot problems. The number of medical professionals registered to attend the conference exceeds 430 attendants from all over the Middle East. Moreover, the conference is accredited for six (6) hours of Continuous Medical Education (CME).

The discussion topics at the conference includes pressure ulcers, infection and inflammation, post surgical wounds, burns, skin care, venous leg ulcers, arterial ulcers and the most recent advanced technologies in wound care. From the Diabetes side and in relation to wound care, the diabetic feet which is the most common complication for diabetes is discussed. Cases in different countries in the Middle East will be studied. Moreover, prevention strategies for diabetic foot complications are discussed as well as implementing the best practices and improving patient outcomes.

"The conference gives the participants an opportunity to benefit from high level scientific presentations, network with each other, exchange data and evaluate clinical practice" Linda Haskins, Director of Nursing, stated. "Gulnaz Tariq, SKMC Wound Care Nurse and Reghina Moldovan, Patient Care Manager, Surgical and Wound Care have been instrumental in organizing and coordinating this very much needed conference."

Dr. Amit Kumar, Vascular Surgeon, said that "we intend by this conference to create a forum for networking for all individuals and organizations interested in wound management, to promote a multi-professional approach to Wound Management and highlight the highest standards of Wound Management through education. Moreover, SKMC supports research into all aspects of Wound Management and we as a team at SKMC are working together for prevention of Limb Loss in Diabetic population with a focus on providing the latest minimally invasive (endovascular) techniques for this purpose".

Facts about Wound Care

Wound Care is complex in nature. It incorporates the establishment of protocols to educate health care professionals and peoples in the promotion of wound healing and prevention of complication associated with untreated wounds.

Every 30 seconds a leg is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world

- Extensive epidemiological surveys have indicated that between 40% and 70% of all lower extremity amputations are related to diabetes. This means that every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes. The vast majority (85%) of all diabetes-related amputations are preceded by foot ulcers.

- For most people who have lost a leg, life will never return to normal. Amputation may involve life-long dependence upon the help of others, inability to work and much misery. Aggressive management of the diabetic foot can prevent amputations in most cases. Even when amputation takes place, the remaining leg and the person's life can be saved by good follow-up care from a multidisciplinary foot team.

Up to 85% of amputations can be prevented

- In most cases, however, diabetic foot ulcers and amputations can be prevented. Researchers have established that between 49% and 85% of all amputations can be prevented. It is imperative, therefore, that healthcare professionals, policymakers and diabetes representative organizations undertake concerted action to ensure that diabetic foot care is structured as effectively as local resources will allow. This will facilitate improvements in foot care for people with diabetes throughout the world and bring about a reduction in diabetic-foot-related morbidity and mortality.

- Significant reductions in amputations can be achieved by well-organized diabetic foot care teams, good diabetes control and well-informed self care

Continuous Medical Education (CME)

SKMC is accredited by Health Authority Abu Dhabi to provide continuous medical educations for physicians. This event is an accredited learning activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and has been designated for 6 hours of CME by Health Authority Abu Dhabi.