Maintaing Quality Assurance

  I began practicing in an outpatient wound clinic in 2001, and I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when first introduced to the “rules” of caring for wound care patients. The billing codes and regulatory issues took some time to understand, but they finally did seem to sink in at some point. Looking back now — wow, everything seems like it was so much simpler back then! With all the billing and coding requirements (which change on a near-constant basis), documentation procedures, and healthcare regulations we’re faced with currently, I can’t imagine how daunting it might be to be a young nurse or physician today. Then again, with the just as near-constant rate that we continue to see improvements to the overall practice of wound care, it’s a great time to be in wound healing, whether you’re a novice or a veteran. I’m excited and hopeful that I’ll get the chance to meet many of you at SAWC Fall this month.   If you’re actually reading this at SAWC Fall in Las Vegas, you’re being exposed to all the various new presentations being offered, including more than 40 live sessions featuring the popular “wound center” track as well as a lively, crowded exhibit hall with more than 100 vendors present this year. The convention also serves as the official meeting place of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, providing an extraordinary opportunity for networking amongst wound care clinicians from across the country.   With that said, I am constantly in awe of the talent we have not only on hand at SAWC in terms of educators and colleagues, but by our very own TWC editorial board. Just as those who are rubbing shoulders with you at SAWC, we offer leaders who cover the business, clinical, and regulatory landscape of wound care to provide readers with the most timely, current, and necessary information about their practice. And this issue alone is a prime example of that.

Maintaining Quality Assurance

  In this issue, we focus on numerous aspects that wound care providers must concern themselves with in order to promote quality in their practice. Co-editor Caroline Fife, MD, CWS, and Kevin Yankowsky JD, take a thought-provoking approach to their discussion on HIPAA and HITECH by posing the following question to readers: Do you know what you’re legally accountable for regarding protected patient health information as it stands in 2013? As you’ll see beginning on page 10, what you don’t know can “hurt” you. Andrea Clark, RHIA, CCS, CPC-H, tackles another complex issue with her primer on ICD-10-CM, which gives an overview of some of the coming changes to the new coding structure — and even silences a few myths. Then, there’s a personal, passionate article by Peggy Dotson, RN, BS, who shares a firsthand account of one group of providers attempts at challenging a pending mandate by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding new requirements for durable medical equipment in wound care. If nothing else, this piece will inspire you to take the initiative to investigate and raise concerns whenever you question or struggle with a regulation that could affect patient care in your wound clinic.   Of course, this is just a sampling of what the current issue of TWC has to offer. I hope you’ll find it as uplifting and educational as I do. See you in Vegas!