What’s New in Wound Care? Meet Our Fantastic Four
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
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 […]
Pressure Injury Case Shines Spotlight on Wound Care Education
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
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 […]
Disappointed by Debridement
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
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 […]
Wet-to-Dry Dressings: The Downside and Effective Alternatives
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
February 10, 2017
Key Takeaways Wet-to-dry dressings are often considered substandard due to their non-selective debridement, which can harm healthy tissue and delay wound healing. This article advocates for more effective, cost-efficient alternatives like selective debridement methods and modern dressings that promote healing and reduce infection risk. What should wound care professionals do when a physician orders wet-to-dry […]
Home Care Nurse’s Passion Leads to Drainage Bulb Holder Invention
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
January 27, 2017
Drainage bulbs can be frustrating for patients and caregivers. But they don’t have to be, thanks to an innovative R.N., her mother and a sewing machine. As a wound care professional, you’ve probably had at least some experience with patients who need drains as part of the post-procedure healing process. But what you might not […]
Wound Detective Series: Is It (Or Is It Not) Infected?
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
January 13, 2017
How can you tell if a wound is really infected? Learn how to spot the signs of infection and be a skilled wound investigator. Are you ready, wound detectives, to tackle a new case? This time, we’re learning how to spot the signs of infection. Remember, the wound will tell us what we need to […]
Ankle-Brachial Index? It’s Easier Than You Think
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
December 7, 2016
Determining a patient’s ABI is a vital part of wound care, but unfortunately this step is often avoided … or even omitted. Here’s why this happens, and how you can change it. Have you ever faced a seemingly daunting task, and so you do everything in your power to avoid it? Like renewing a driver’s […]
Wound Care Myths: 5 More Debunked
By Keisha Smith, MA, CWCMS
November 25, 2016
Whether it involves heel protectors, anti-embolism stockings, or letting wounds “breathe,” there are still plenty of wound-care myths circulating out there. Ready for the truth? You can handle it. Do you use wet-to-dry dressings in order to save money? Have you administered oral antibiotics to treat infected wounds? And do you follow physicians’ orders for […]