NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WOUND CARE® 
Broadens Eligibility for Specialty Certification in Diabetic Wounds

• Every 30 seconds a leg is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world
• 85% of all diabetes-related amputations are preceded by foot ulcers
• Research shows that nearly all amputations can be prevented

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin- April 2, 2012 National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC®), the nation’s largest wound care credentialing board, today announced new eligibility requirements for their successful wound care certification in the specialty of diabetic wounds. The Diabetic Wound Certified, DWC®, credential demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency and mastery of essential knowledge and skills of diabetic wound management.

This specialty certification is intended to help to fill a dramatic need for certified clinicians in the growing area of diabetic wounds. Licensed healthcare professionals can now take their diabetes expertise to a specialized level. “The DWC is the only wound care credential that is specific to the diabetes disease state”, said Debbie Hecker, RN MBA WCC® DWC®, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Wound Care.

Eligibility for the DWC credential now extends to more than 8,000 diabetic educators from the American Academy of Diabetic Educators (AADE) and the thousands of healthcare professionals who work with diabetic patients, in addition to the 16,000 clinicians already certified in wound care. Specific eligibility requirements are available on the NAWC website.

About NAWC
The NAWC is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the advancement and promotion of excellence in wound care through the certification of wound care practitioners. It is the largest professional wound care credentialing organization in the United States. The NAWC is among an elite group of more than 90 credentialing organizations that have received and maintained National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation. For more information about the DWC and WCC® certifications, visit the website at www.nawccb.org.

Contact Information:
Fred Berg, CWCMS
Director of Marketing and Business Development
National Alliance of Wound Care

877-922-6292, ext 706   Fax: 1-800-352-8339  Email: fberg@nawccb.org

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• wafer dressing containing gel-forming agents in an adhesive compound laminated onto a flexible water resistant outer layer
• occlusive or semi-occlusive dressing to cover the wound and prevent bacteria and fluids from interacting with the wound while promoting moist wound healing and
  autolytic debridement

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When to Use:

• to protect intact skin or newly healed wounds
• non-infected wounds with scant to moderate drainage
• wounds with granulation tissue or necrotic tissue
• partial and full thickness wounds
• may be used under compression

Advantages:

• available in variety of shapes, sizes, adhesive properties and in a variety of forms including wafers, pastes and powders
• adhesive, moldable, provides a moisture barrier
• promotes moist wound healing
• provides autolytic debridement

Disadvantages:

• many CANNOT be used on infected wounds – check manufacturer’s instructions
• dislodges with heavy exudate
• odor when removed
• dressing may dislodge with shearing or friction – beveled      edges may help prevent this
• may cause peri-wound maceration

Examples:

• DuoDerm, Ultec, RepliCare, Tegasorb, Restore

Reminders:

• many are not for use on infected wounds – check manufacturer’s instructions
• not indicated for heavily exudating wounds
• apply wafer 1 – 2 inches larger than wound
• change every 3 days or up to 7 days, depending on exudates and manufacturer’s instructions
• DO NOT USE with fungal lesions, herpetic lesions, wound with deep tunnels, tracts and undermining, fragile surrounding skin, exposed tendon or bone
• dressing may be warmed prior to application for improved    adherence;  hold in place 30 – 40 seconds when applying

www.wcei.net

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Designed as full day or half day events, the seminars are presented in an exciting, motivating and energizing format that makes the perfect learning environment.

Choose from Wound Assessment or Topical Wound Management topics.  Seminar dates and locations will be added throughout the year.

Send all staff members that work with wounds–LPNs, RNs, NPs, PTs, physicians, nurse managers, treatment nurses, wound care team members, clinic directors, MDS coordinators, consultants and any clinicians interested in wound care.

For a complete schedule visit our website and click on the One Day tab.  Visit us at www.wcei.net

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Description:
Combination of 2 or more physically distinct products manufactured as a single dressing that provides multiple functions :  a bacterial barrier, absorbency, a degree of

Composite Dressing

non-adherence to the wound bed and self adhesiveness

When to Use:
Primary or secondary dressing for partial or full thickness wounds, wounds with minimal to heavy exudate, granulating or necrotic wounds

Advantages:

Disadvantages:
Requires border of intact skin on which to  adhere the dressing

Examples:                   ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Covaderm, Alldress, Telpha Island, Stratasorb, Tegaderm Pad, OpSite Post-Op

Reminders:

• cannot cut dressings – use appropriate size
• frequency of change varies – follow manufacturer’s instructions
• do  not stretch dressing during application

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Product Focus: Collagen Dressing

Description:
Freeze dried sheets of collagen, particles, pastes or gels usually derived from cow hides – they encourage the deposition and organization of newly formed collagen fibers and granulation tissue in the wound bed

When to Use:
Primary dressing for chronic non-healing wounds, partial and full thickness wounds, granulating or necrotic wounds, infected and non-infected wounds, tunneling wounds and wounds with minimal to heavy exudate, depending on the form of collagen used

Advantages:
- absorbent
- non-adherent
- conforms well to wound
- maintains moist wound environment
- easy to use

Disadvantages:
- not recommended for wounds with heavy eschar
- requires secondary dressing
- contraindicated: third degree burns and sensitivity to bovine (cattle) products

Examples:
- Fibracol, BGC Matrix, CellerateRX, Stimulen, Promogran Matrix

Reminders:
- Frequency of change will vary according to product used and exudate level of the wound
- Follow manufacturer’s guidelines

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Description:
- derived from brown seaweed, spun into rope or flat dressing forms
- absorbs up to 20 times its weight
- conforms to the shape of the wound
- combines with wound exudate to form a soft gel to maintain a moist wound environment

One of New Zealand’s most common brown seaweeds is Neptune’s necklace (Hormosira banksii), with its chains of beads

When to Use:
- primary dressing on partial and full thickness wounds
- draining wounds with moderate to heavy exudate
- infected and non-infected wounds
- wounds with tunneling and undermining
- must be used in moist wounds in order for product to gel
- may be used for extended periods of time

Advantages:
- absorbent
- conformable, non-adhesive
- provides moist wound healing environment
- easy to use
- fills dead space
- promotes autolytic debridement

Disadvantages:
- expensive to use in large wounds
- if wound bed is dry it will not form a gel and may adhere to granulation tissue, dry out the wound bed and cause trauma to healing tissue

Examples:
- Curasorb, Sorbsan, Kaltostat, Fibracol, Aquacel

Reminders:
- irrigate wound with normal saline or pH balanced surfactant cleanser between dressing changes
- use in moderate to heavily exudating wounds; not for use in a dry wound
- cover with secondary dressing
- change as needed, usually 1 -3 days, some up to 5 days
- it is inappropriate to moisten this product before using or to use with hydrogel – such actions indicate another type of dressing would be more appropriate
Wound Care Education Institute – 1-877-462-9234 – www.wcei.net

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Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI®) offers one-day wound care courses throughout the USA year long. WCEI will be hosting TWO New Wound Management Seminars in Orlando, FL on December 5, 2011.  You can Register Here. 
The Seminars will be held here:
Regency Orlando
9300 Airport Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32827
Phone: 407-825-1375
10:00am-5:00pm
Speakers:
Nancy Morgan and Donna Sardina combine their expertise as Certified Wound Care Nurses, along with their extensive background in wound care education and wound management program development to bring you the latest in wound care. As nursing entrepreneurs, Nancy and Donna are experienced and highly recognized international presenters. Their motivational teaching style has inspired health care professionals across the nation.
Click Here to Register
Enhance Your Knowledge in Wound Care!
Our One Day Wound Care Seminars are a few hours long and provide a good “taste of our apple” as it relates to how we deliver wound care education to attendees. The seminar is presented in an exciting, motivating and energizing format that makes the perfect learning environment.  You’ll want to immediately go out to heal wounds and make a difference in your patients life!!
Registration for Orlando seminars only Includes:
•    Admission to the program
•    Vendor Exhibits
•    Lunch
•    Course Handouts
•    Continuing Education Credits
Don’t Miss Out on this Wound Assessment Seminar. Register Here

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Topical Wound Management Basics will be presented by Bill Richlen PT, WCC, CWS Infinitus, LLC, WCEI Instructor at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas NV September 7-10,2011.

In this 3-part session, you’ll get back to the basics, learning the principles of moist wound healing and what you can do to obtain this environment for your wounds. We’ll discuss wound management and some of the challenges we encounter when treating wounds. Choosing a dressing can be a difficult process. You’ll learn the topical dressing categories, simplifying the process of selection of the correct dressing. In this session, you’ll learn how to identify what your wound needs by what your assessment indicates. We’ll talk about the wet to dry dressing and whether or not it has a place in current day wound care.

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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Challenges of Wound Care: Bridging the Gap will be presented by Josie F. Schantz MSN, RN-BC, WCC, Regional Professional Education Manager at this year’s Wild on Wounds National Conference in Las Vegas NV, September 7-10,2011.

Wound care is a relatively new field in medicine. Often times, there is a big gap that seems to exist between medical practice and using clinical data to change healthcare practices.  The goal of this educational offering is to teach healthcare professionals about the science of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).  We will summarize NPWT mechanisms of action, indications, contraindications and warnings. We will discuss benchmark tips and techniques when applying dressings. Lastly, we will discuss research studies that substantiate the clinical effectiveness of NPWT

For more information about the Wound Care Education Institute, please visit http://www.wcei.net.

Click Here To Register for the Wild on Wounds National Conference

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