Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. — Vince Lombardi

  In 2003, Janet M. Davis, MSN, RN, GNP-BC, CWOCN, stepped away from direct patient care and into the role of full-time educator. Although she misses the patient interaction, Janet knows her reach of care is far greater now. As a clinical consultant and educator for 3M Health Care (St. Paul, MN), she continues to help people, just in a different way, by providing information and education to all levels of clinicians, from nursing assistants to physicians.

Index: Ostomy Wound Manage. 2012;58(3):20–28.

Abstract

  The evaluation and management (E/M) services for the physician and the hospital-based outpatient center (“facility”) are calculated using different federal regulations. In addition, patients visiting outpatient wound care centers require different levels of care from the physician than the facility. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare physician and facility E/M level-of-service coding using the electronic wound registry records from three geographically diverse, hospital-based outpatient wound centers. De-identified data on 9,985 patient visit level-of-service codes were prospectively collected using an electronic health record (EHR) system that internally and automatically audits the chart and calculates the physician and the facility E/M level of service based on the documentation present in the chart.

Index: Ostomy Wound Manage. 2012;58(3):46–51.

Abstract

  The integration of information technology into daily patient care potentially provides a means to standardize care and enable continuous quality improvement through improved communication among care teams. A 2-month observational study was conducted on 38 residents with pressure ulcers at a 51-bed skilled nursing facility to rate the Ease of Use and Wound Management Effectiveness of a point-of-care electronic wound documentation system. Nine nurses evaluated the use of handheld “smart phone” devices equipped with a digital camera to document pressure ulcer assessment and treatment at point of care. Ease of Use (five items) was scored on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = very easy); Wound Management Effectiveness (eight items) was scored on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = very effective).

Burn and wound care business acquired

  Mölnlycke Health Care US, LLC (Norcross, GA) acquired all the commercial assets of Brennen Medical (St. Paul, MN) within the burn and wound care markets. Under a new name, Brennen Medical will continue to develop their core technologies (porcine tissue and beta-glucans) for applications in other markets.

  For more information, visit, www.molnlycke.com.

Hydrofiber wound dressing now available in US

  ConvaTec’s (Skillman, NJ) AQUACEL® EXTRA™ wound dressing with strengthening fiber is now available in the United States. It is constructed with two-dimensional strengthening fibers stitched into the dressing. Although it is made from the same base material used to manufacture Hydrofiber® Technology, the strengthening fibers do not gel on contact with fluid, so they maintain their integrity and become encompassed by the gel, providing additional strength. The design makes it nine times stronger and increases absorbency 39% over the current AQUACEL® wound dressings. The new design also aids the easy removal from even the deepest wound beds. The new wound dressing will be specifically suitable when managing moderate to highly exuding wounds.