Wound care expertise from hospital to home
Backus Home Health Care, Backus Hospital and the Wound Care Center at the Backus Outpatient Care Center are teaming up to offer an unprecedented level of woundcare. All three entities now have specially trained, certified wound nurses to help patients - the only partnership of its kind in the region.
"Our goal is to improve the coordination and continuity of care for patients," said Deb Psanis, RN, clinical director of Backus Home Health Care. "This includes more education for nursing staff and physicians about wound care. We want to offer the community great wound care."
The first program will be held Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the conference rooms at the hospital. It will focus on pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores. An in-depth discussion on diagnosis, assessment and documentation will take place. The presentation is open to physicians and nurses as well as as nurses from homecare and longterm care settings.
"The standard of wound care has progressed, and it is part of our role as certified wound care nurses to educate everyone at the hospital and community about advances in care," Ms. Psanis said.
Hollister, KCI and Medical Logistics will provide educational materials about their products, which are being used to promote quicker healing, less pain and less frequent dressing changes.
Lisa Orowson, RN, part of Backus Nursing and Community Health Education Department, said the new partnership started meeting monthly during the summer to look at ways to better serve wound care patients. Initially, they will focus on education and assessment, and in the future they plan to examine ways to streamline documentation.
"By providing education for staff, we can increase their knowledge base to assist with diagnosis of different types of wounds and the treatment for them, which ultimately leads to providing better care for the patient," Ms. Orowson said.
Nancy Hammond, APRN, from the Wound Care Center, said it is important staff members also understand how to teach patients and their families about wound care treatment. "This is about providing seamless wound care throughout all three facilities," Ms. Hammond said.
Ms. Psanis, Ms. Orowson and Ms. Hammond are all certified wound care specialists through the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board. Also on staff at the Wound Care Center are Lynne Barlow, RN, and Debbie Moran, RN, clinical coordinator at the Wound Care Center. Dana Cavicke, MD, medical director of the Wound Care Center, also is trained in wound care.
"We have an advantage with this specially trained staff and we want to offer our expertise to the community," Ms. Psanis said. "This is a unique opportunity Backus has with three of its affiliates working together, all with certified wound nurses."