Shared Health Services Blog

Five out of six entries placed across the MarCom Awards, Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards, and Digital Health Awards — including a Platinum for "Compliant Documentation Is Storytelling." These aren't wound care industry awards. They're national creative competitions judged against Fortune 500 companies and major health systems. How did a family-owned wound care partner earn this recognition? By writing for every reader — from CEO to CNA — with clear, accessible, actionable

Hospitals face a perfect storm: physician compensation up 7.5% while productivity stalls, nurses burning out despite improved staffing, patients expecting seamless care, and margins frozen at 1%. These pressures don't just add up—they multiply. And wound care programs, sitting at the intersection of all four crisis vectors, crack first. This analysis breaks down the feedback loop driving burnout and offers a structural path forward for hospital leaders protecting margin-criti

Every wound care center has its own rhythm. The Missing Photograph. The Supply Closet's Lament. The Social Worker's Empty Chair. The Quiet Radio. These aren't metaphors—they're operational friction points hiding inside your data right now. Quality improvement stops being theoretical when you measure what your team experiences every day. At Shared Health Services, we help you discover the metrics your own stories are already trying to reveal. Because in wound care, the best qu

You've seen the headlines: 1% hospital margins, $911B in cuts, insurers exiting Medicare Advantage, millions losing Medicaid. For hospital wound care programs, 2026 isn't just another challenging year—it's when everything hits at once. But this convergence isn't a crisis. It's a turning point. The wound care centers that will thrive are building operational resilience right now, during fall 2025. Learn what preparation looks like and why timing matters for your program's succ

Master wound care acronyms with our comprehensive guide covering 350+ terms from DFU and NPWT to CMS billing codes. Transform confusing alphabet soup into strategic communication advantage. Essential reference for healthcare professionals navigating clinical terminology, billing requirements, and compliance frameworks in wound care and hyperbaric medicine.

AI is moving fast from headlines to hospital hallways. For wound care and HBOT programs, the challenge isn’t whether AI will be used — it’s how. From documentation to reimbursement, technology can either equip clinicians or erode trust. This post explores the risks, the patient perspective, and how SHS helps hospitals adopt AI responsibly so programs stay sustainable, compliant, and patient-centered.

A breakthrough in wound care is here: researchers at Aalto University in Finland and the University of Bayreuth in Germany have developed a self-healing hydrogel, nicknamed “Superskin.” This innovation could transform how clinicians approach complex wounds, combining coding-driven material design with lab-tested performance. Here’s what wound care teams need to know about its potential and clinical implications.

Great documentation is more than compliance — it’s storytelling. In wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), every patient record should read like a clear, defensible narrative. From proving HBOT candidacy to building treatment plans and tracking outcomes, each act in the story builds trust, supports reimbursement, and captures the real work happening in the treatment room.

Hospitals are facing a quiet but accelerating crisis — from CMS terminations and reimbursement loss to service line closures, staffing shortages, and compliance breakdowns. This post unpacks the systemic risks hospitals face in 2025 — and how high-performing, audit-ready wound care programs can restore stability, revenue, and care continuity.

From pricing reform and rebate pilots to direct-to-patient drug access and rural funding, hospitals are facing rapid shifts in how cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs) are purchased, reimbursed, and documented. This post breaks down what wound care leaders need to know — and how Shared Health Services helps partners respond with insight, compliance support, and tools that strengthen long-term strategies.

On July 30, 1965, Medicare and Medicaid became pillars of access and equity in U.S. health care. Sixty years later, they support over 140 million Americans — including many patients seen in hospital-based wound care and hyperbaric programs. This post explores their legacy, outlines key CMS updates for FY 2026, and shows how Shared Health Services equips partners to respond to policy change with confidence, clarity, and compliant care delivery.

When patients have nowhere to go, hospitals are left holding the line — often at the expense of reimbursement, staffing, and patient care. This post unpacks the hidden costs of social holds, how they distort LOS metrics, and what it means for wound care teams managing complex patients in overcrowded systems. Learn how Shared Health Services equips partners to stay focused on healing while navigating today’s discharge challenges.

Hospitals and physician practices launching a wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) program must meet NFPA 99 standards from day one. This post breaks down critical Chapter 14 requirements—including safety the hyperbaric coordinator role, chamber classifications, fire protection systems, electrical guidelines, and survey readiness—and explains how SHS supports partners in building compliant, high-performing HBOT programs that reduce risk and deliver lasting value.

A new CMS rule may lead to 1.8 million people losing health coverage — putting pressure on hospitals to manage eligibility shifts, Medicaid changes, and access barriers. But for rural wound care programs, this is also a chance to close gaps, streamline referrals, and build resilience. Learn how SHS supports partners with smart, site-specific tools that simplify workflows, protect patient access, and strengthen financial sustainability.

In 2025, two tragic HBOT incidents at wellness clinics reignited concern across the field. This post explores the risks of non-clinical hyperbaric use, highlights what truly makes HBOT safe, and outlines the standards SHS champions for hospital- and physician-practice-based programs. If your team is re-evaluating protocols, credentials, or training, this is a must-read guide to safety, clarity, and clinical oversight.

CMS’s proposed 2026 OPPS rule could significantly impact wound care reimbursement, including major shifts for skin substitutes and outpatient services. This post breaks down what’s changing, what’s uncertain, and how Shared Health Services equips hospital leaders to stay ahead. Get clear insights and strategic takeaways to help your team prepare now.

Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill offers real funding and reform opportunities for rural hospitals and wound care programs. From $50B in transformation grants to Medicare pay increases and broadband expansion, here’s what rural leaders need to know — and how SHS is helping partners act.

The DOJ just indicted providers in one of the largest skin sub fraud schemes ever—and CMS is launching a new prior auth model targeting wound care. If your program uses cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs), now is the time to tighten documentation and revisit patient selection protocols. This blog breaks down what’s changing—and how SHS helps wound centers deliver compliant, audit-ready care.

A new proposal under review by the National Quality Forum could classify pressure injuries that develop at home as Serious Reportable Events (SREs). While not yet mandated, this shift may affect how wound centers document, report, and respond — especially under programs like MIPS. SHS breaks down what this could mean, how to prepare, and why your voice matters in the national comment period.

CMS has issued a fraud alert warning healthcare providers about scammers posing as auditors and sending fake fax requests for medical records. Wound care clinics are frequent targets due to high Medicare volume and audit activity. Learn how to spot a phishing attempt and what steps to take to protect your patients, your data, and your compliance standing.