Watch the Interview
The literature shows that more than 60% of amputations are preventable. Among patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia, up to 50% of patients who undergo a major lower extremity amputation never have a thorough vascular assessment in order to evaluate the potential for limb preservation.[1]
In this interview, Dr. David Charash talks about his experience in establishing a nontraditional, virtual limb preservation program. For resources on limb preservation, see FREE topic "Building a Limb Preservation Program: Traditional and Nontraditional Models"
About the Authors
Elaine Horibe Song, MD, PhD, MBA
Dr. Song is a Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WoundReference, Inc., a clinical and reimbursement decision support & telemedicine platform for wound care and hyperbaric clinicians. With a medical, science and business background, Dr. Song previously served as medical director for a regenerative medicine-focused biotech company in California, and for a Joint Commission International-accredited hospital network. Dr. Song also served as a management consultant for Kaiser Permanente, practiced as a plastic surgeon in private practice and academia, and conducted bench and clinical research in wound healing, microsurgery and transplant immunology. Dr. Song holds a position as Affiliate Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, and is a volunteer, Committee Chair of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care. She has authored more than 100 scientific publications, book chapters, software registrations and patents.
David Charash, DO,CWS,FACEP,FUHM
Dr David Charash is Principal in Dive Medicine and Hyperbaric Consultants where he manages client and business relationships. He is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine and Certified by the American Board Of Wound Management as a Certified Wound Specialist. He has lead multiple Wound Centers as Medical Director. He lectures with Wound Education Partners in both Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care. He lectures Nationally and Internationally on all aspects of Wound Care, Hyperbaric Medicine and Dive Medicine. He is a hyperbaric site surveyor for accreditation with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society. Dr Charash is a NOAA Dive Medicine Physician, Certified Dive Fitness Medical Examiner and Divers Alert Network Referral Physician. He works with the Diving Community as a subject matter expert and consultant.
