Sneak Peek: Net Health Wound Care Source Report: Q1 2025

The wound care industry is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies, regulatory shifts, and a growing patient population with complex needs. The upcoming “Net Health Wound Care Source Report: Q1 2025” offers an in-depth look at the current landscape, based on insights from 200 U.S. wound care professionals, including administrators, clinicians, and nurses across diverse healthcare settings.

Despite these challenges, 82% of professionals have a positive outlook on the industry, despite significant challenges such as an aging population with comorbidities (40%), interdisciplinary care complexities (38%), and financial penalties (37%). Burnout also remains a critical issue, with 77% of respondents reporting a significant impact. To that end, technology is seen as a critical solution, with strong support for smart documentation tools (47%), and integrated tech systems (43%). AI seems to be widely embraced, with 75% of professionals optimistic about its role in wound care and 80% supporting AI-driven clinical documentation. With ongoing policy changes and what feels like an overwhelming advancement of AI, this report will provide valuable insights into the future of wound care. Stay tuned for the full report release to explore these findings in greater detail!

Five Preview Findings

Wound Care Professionals Love What They Do

Overall, 82% of respondents feel positive towards the wound care industry, with 29% feeling very positive. A little over a third 34% of nurses are very positive about the industry. Despite the optimism, there are a few challenges. During the last six months, wound care professionals said they faced the following headwinds:  

• Aging population with greater comorbidities (40%)
• Interdisciplinary healthcare (38%)
• Wound-related financial penalties and fines (37%)

Burnout Remains a Persistent Issue

77% of respondents say that burnout has had a significant impact on their organization, with 26% indicating a very significant impact. The main cause of burnout? Regulatory and compliance pressures (40%). They see technology as a viable solution for reducing burnout, especially in the following ways:  

• Smart documentation, compliance, and billing tools (47%)
• AI and predictive analytics for decision support (45%)
• Integrated technology across systems (43%)

Wound Care Professionals Feel Good about AI

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents feel positive about the use of AI in their wound care organization. And when it comes to using AI for clinical documentation support, 80% feel positive about using AI; 60% of workers at community hospital organizations are very positive. Despite this, not everybody agrees: 35% of those who work in a private practice organization are neutral about the use of AI.

Using Technology to Measure Wounds Speeds Assessment

Over two-thirds (76%) of nurses and clinicians felt positive about the using of technology to measure wounds because it made assessments faster. However, just 35% of nurses said that wound measurement technology improved the integration of images across systems.

Prior to the Presidential Inauguration, Wound Care Professionals Welcomed Regulatory and Reimbursement Changes under the New Administration

In December 2024, 79% felt positive about potential regulatory and reimbursement changes under the new administration. Half of nurses (48%) were very positive about potential changes. Separately, wound care professionals also said that the following existing policy changes would have the greatest impact:  

• Managing new CMS Skin Substitute Local Coverage Determination (LCD) rules (45%)
• Implementing new Caregiver Training Service guidelines (42%)
• Interoperability requirements/the pending 2026 Provider Access API (41%).
  

Who We Surveyed

Net Health commissioned Censuswide, a renowned international research firm, to conduct a survey with 200 U.S. wound care professionals, including administrators, directors, nurses, and clinicians. Respondents, served in middle management and above, and were equally represented by the core practice settings of Community Hospitals, Hospital Systems, IDNs, Private Practices, and Skilled Nursing Facilities. Respondents also represented virtually every region of the country as well as large and rural markets. Research was conducted between December 2024 to January of 2025.