The Head to Toe Search for Wounds
By Nancy Collins, PhD, RDN, LD, NWCC, FAND
June 12, 2018
A comprehensive skin assessment should look for more than just wounds because many medical problems have telltale signs that are easy to see if you know what to look for. POA. These three little letters have become very important in wound care because we must document any wounds present on admission (POA). By doing so, […]
Stinging. Burning. Painful. Wounds Hurt!
By Nancy Collins, PhD, RDN, LD, NWCC, FAND
March 10, 2018
Wound pain is sometimes difficult to quantify, but if a patient complains of pain, this requires effective and timely pain management. In the midst of the war on narcotics, that might mean looking for alternative pain management techniques and learning new approaches. Several months ago, I was attacked by the most venomous scorpion in North […]
Lower Extremity Ulcers and the Toe Brachial Pressure Index
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
January 19, 2018
To treat patients with lower extremity ulcers, you need to find out if there’s impaired arterial blood flow. For some patients, however, the standard Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) yields misleading results. Fortunately, there’s an easy alternative: the Toe Brachial Pressure Index (TBPI). Here’s when and how to perform this simple test. When confronting a lower […]
9 Wound Care Documentation Pitfalls to Avoid
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
May 12, 2017
Lawsuits often are settled out of court because the medical record documentation is not defensible. Incomplete, illogical, and inconsistent records are far too common, so it is important to avoid the common pitfalls. After reviewing hundreds of medical charts involved in litigation, I noticed many of the same problems occurring in the wound care documentation […]
The Great (Legal) Debate About Turn and Reposition Documentation
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
April 7, 2017
Documentation of turning and repositioning often leads to legal problems as some healthcare providers chart by exception and others chart at the point of care. “The hospital never turned the patient, and therefore the patient suffered a serious pressure injury,” declared the plaintiff attorney. The defense team shot back, “Whoa. Slow down. Never is long […]