Recent Posts | page 20
May 26, 2017
Clinicians can help relieve patient pain and discomfort caused by shingles with these treatment options. Did you know that one in three people in the United States is affected by shingles? This common and very painful skin condition also happens to be made worse by stress – like hospitalization and other chronic illnesses. As clinicians, […]
May 18, 2017
How do you spot an unhealthy wound edge? Learn more about the causes, prevention and treatment of epibole. When it comes to treating epibole, it’s all about knowing what a healthy wound edge looks like – and being able to spot signs of trouble. This basic overview includes epibole causes, prevention and treatment. We’ll have […]
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 […]
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 […]
March 31, 2017
How to identify and treat intertriginous dermatitis (ITD) within the skin folds among obese patients. Statistics show that more than one in three adults in the U.S. are obese (BMI>30). Patients within this population often have skin folds in many areas of the body, especially under the arms, in the groin, under the breasts, and […]
March 15, 2017
Check out these four new and cutting-edge wound treatments that’ll have you excited and ready for the future. When it comes to wound care, there are some incredible developments in progress that might just blow your mind. In fact, these new products and wound treatments are so cutting-edge, they sound like they’re straight out of […]
March 10, 2017
Trained wound care clinicians truly make a difference in the lives of their patients. This caregiver knows first-hand, and wanted to share her story. Recently, a 45-year-old caregiver by the name of Annie* contacted WCEI for help. She was desperate and in search of answers. Her personal account serves as a sobering reminder of why […]
March 3, 2017
Plaintiffs often express shock and disbelief after eschar is removed, which often leaves a wound larger than the original size of the eschar. Wound photo: “Stage 4 decubitus displaying the Gluteus medius muscle attached to the crest of the ilium” by Bobjgalindo is licensed under CC BY 2.0 “We were in shock and couldn’t believe our […]
February 10, 2017
What should wound care professionals do when a physician orders wet-to-dry dressings? Be prepared and know the facts. Those of us in wound care know that wet-to-dry dressings are considered substandard care. Some physicians, however, commonly order wet-to-dry dressings for patients, often leaving clinicians in a tricky situation. Do you feel conflicted as to how […]
February 3, 2017
The battle between optimal medical care and patient rights is one to fight with empathy and finesse to keep it out of the courtroom. I recently reviewed a lawsuit filed by the family of a patient* with a spinal cord injury. The patient was involved in a car accident and sustained multiple traumatic injuries. The […]