Shared Health Services Blog

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.

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.

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.

Wound care teams are seeing a troubling rise in claim denials — often without insight into the reasoning behind them. What if hospitals could preview claims using the same algorithms payers use to reject them? In this post, we explore how algorithm transparency could help reduce errors, improve reimbursement accuracy, and build stronger payer-provider relationships.

Hospitals and physician practices face growing audit risks from CMS, RACs, and other third-party payors. From ADRs to TPE reviews, wound centers must be prepared. Learn how to protect your revenue, align your documentation, and avoid letting the fox into the hen house.

June is Wound Healing Awareness Month — a national effort to raise awareness about chronic wounds, early intervention, and access to advanced care. It’s a chance for hospitals and providers to highlight healing outcomes, educate communities, and strengthen wound care delivery where it matters most.

September is PAD Awareness Month — a time to highlight the critical link between vascular health and wound healing. Peripheral artery disease limits blood flow, delaying recovery and increasing risk of limb loss. This post explores why early detection, referral, and vascular support are key for wound care outcomes.

SAAK Health is launching a new evidence-based wound care clinic in Brookfield, WI — bringing advanced treatments and personalized support closer to home. This specialty clinic is designed to serve patients with chronic, non-healing wounds and support local providers through referral coordination and continuity of care.

Wound Healing Awareness Month raises visibility for patients living with chronic wounds and the clinicians who care for them. Millions face delayed healing due to conditions like diabetes, PAD, or infection. This post explores the impact of early referral, education, and access to specialized wound care services.

April is Limb Loss Awareness Month — drawing attention to the millions at risk for amputation due to diabetes, PAD, and chronic wounds. With timely intervention and access to advanced wound care, many amputations can be prevented. This post explores what hospitals and providers can do to help preserve limbs and lives.

When diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) extend to bone, the risk of limb loss increases sharply. Wagner Grade 3 ulcers with suspected osteomyelitis require urgent imaging, surgical consult, and advanced wound care. This post explores diagnostic challenges and why timely intervention is critical to saving limbs — and lives.

Choosing the right wound care partner can shape your program’s success for years to come. At Shared Health Services, we provide hospitals and physician practices with market-specific data, financial forecasting, and compliance expertise—empowering your team to launch and sustain high-performing wound care and HBOT services.

Opening a wound care center inside your practice starts with vision—and the right team. This post explores how Shared Health Services supports private providers from site selection to setup, guiding every step with data-driven tools, clinical insight, and practical advice to launch with confidence.

Where do we go from here? In this strategic reflection, Terrie A. Dittmeyer, VP of Operations at Shared Health Services, explores the future of wound care—highlighting the critical role of specialized programs, clinical leadership, and innovation in treating complex, non-healing wounds.