Best of TWC 2021

Today’s Wound Clinic started 2021 in a new and brave territory. We left behind the CMYK world of print magazines and transitioned to an entirely digital arena. We leapt from the page and explored more video content, podcasts, and slideshows. We established topic centers on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), telehealth, lymphedema, Business Briefs, and Consultation Corner, featuring the best of what we’ve done on each topic, and more. We changed, yet we continued offering the same great content for wound clinics, provided by the same respected and knowledgeable contributors.

Here is what you were reading, watching, and listening to from TWC in 2021 (along with some links in case you missed it the first time).

January

Kicking off a new year, a panel of experts—Caroline E. Fife, MD, FAAFP, CWS, FUHM; Harriet Jones, MD, FACP; Traci A. Kimball, MD, CWSP; Eric Lullove, DPM, CWSP, FACCWS, FAPWCA; and Jeanine Maguire, PT, MS, CWS—gave wound clinicians insights into what they needed to know going into 2021. These practitioners discussed challenges such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and what gave them optimism for a new year.

In the first Business Briefs of the year, Kathleen D. Schaum, MS, answered some frequently asked questions from provider-based departments (PBDs) and physicians/qualified healthcare professionals (QHPs). In Consultation Corner, Ms. Schaum emphasized that not understanding how your electronic health record (EHR) threads together your documentation can lead to failing audits and repayments.

Looking at changing wound clinics, Survam Patel, PharmD; Kevin Rosenblatt, MD, PhD; and Peter Bryant-Greenwood, MD explored personalized wound care diagnostics, such as modern molecular pathology and customized pathogen panels. Amy Mynderse, MD, wrote about the potential of concierge medicine.

February

In February, TWC focused on telehealth. Best practices for patient-centered telehealth were the subject of an article by Elaine H. Song, MD, PhD, MBA; Catherine Milne, APRN, MSN, CWOCN-AP; Lauren Mitchell; Tiffany Hamm, BSN, RN, ACHRN, CWS; Jeffrey Mize, RRT, CHT, CWCA; Kye Evans DO, FACEP; Jayesh Shah MD, MHA; Scott Robinson, MD; Nataliya Lebedinskaya, RN, BSN, CWOCN; and Erin M. Tharalson, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, CWS. Ms. Schaum updated readers on reimbursement for telehealth services.

In a comprehensive video presentation, Jayesh B. Shah, MD, MSc, UHM ABPM, CWSP, FAPWCA, FCCWS, FACHM FUHM, FACP, discussed how to get started with telehealth, how to choose and tailor telehealth modalities to your needs, how to meet documentation requirements and more. Attorneys Don Stephens and Justin Rightmer explored how wound care physicians can protect themselves from malpractice suits when providing telehealth services.

March

Last March marked one year since COVID-19 became a pandemic. How did wound clinics adjust? Dr. Fife, Dr. Shah. Nancy Collins, PhD, RDN, LD, NWCC, FAND; and Harriet Jones, MD, FACP; took a look at how wound clinics coped and continued to cope. Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP, surveyed wound clinics on COVID-19’s impact on them. In an editorial, Dr. Fife documented the isolation caused by the pandemic.

After suffering a wound between his shoulder blades that he could not treat himself, Shaun Carpenter, MD, FAPWCA, CWSP, detailed what it’s like when a wound specialist gets a wound. In his Let’s Be Frank column in March, Frank Aviles Jr., PT, CWS, FACCWS, CLT-LANA, ALM, AWCC, DAPWCA, noted that smart technology may not always be what it’s cracked up to be in health care. In a Speaking of Wounds podcast, Cathy Thomas Hess, VP and Chief Clinical Officer for Net Health Wound Care, offered a look at how you can ensure workflow success by focusing on one simple word. In a blog, Desmond Bell, DPM, CWS, FFPM RCPS Glasgow, asked, “If you had it to do all over again, would you still choose wound care?”

April

When treating diabetic foot ulcers, multidisciplinary care can help save limbs. This was emphasized in a thoughtful article by Efthymios Gkotsoulias, DPM; David Kuten, MD; and Dr. Fife in April. The wearing of masks helped stop the spread of COVID, but Rosemary Hill, WOCN, and Martha R. Kelso described how they are using portable, point-of-care imaging technology to detect wound infection without needing the sense of smell, a topic also covered in a related podcast. Business Briefs updated readers on remote physiologic monitoring reimbursement. In her blog, Monique Abner, MD, CWSP, advised doctors to care for wounds like they would tend a garden.

May

Debridement has been heavily scrutinized by various auditors, government agencies and insurers. In May, Donna J. Cartwright, MPA, RHIA, CCS, RAC, FAHIMA, wrote the first in a series of articles taking a deep dive into proper documentation practices for debridement. Mr. Aviles explored developing a “cheat sheet” to create the ideal wound dressing.

Dr. Shah and Patricia Rios, MSN, CHRN-C, wrote about treating diabetic foot ulcers with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). In a Speaking of Wounds podcast, Wes Irvin discussed his experience as an “evolving survivor,” explaining how hyperbaric oxygen therapy and integrative care helped him overcome chronic health challenges. Dr. Lullove offered pointers to converting a wound clinic to a COVID-19 testing clinic.

June

As COVID continued to linger into June, Pamela Scarborough, PT, DPT, MS, CWS, FAAWC; provided a guide to recognizing COVID-19 skin and mucosal manifestations, while Ms. Maguire looked at COVID and skin integrity. Matthew Regulski, DPM, ABMSP, CMET, FAPWH(c), emphasized the importance to eliminating biofilm infections from wounds.

In an editorial in June, Dr. Fife described how the fairy tale days in the hospital-based outpatient wound center (HOPD) were over. Ms. Schaum interviewed Teri Biven PT, DPT, CWS, FACCWS, and Melissa Johnson PT, DPT, CWS, on how they developed successful wound/ulcer management provider-based departments.

July

When wound clinicians assess a wound, they should think like a detective processing a crime scene to arrive at a treatment plan, Heather Hettrick, PT, PhD, CWS, AWCC, CLT-LANA, CLWT, CORE emphasized in a July article. Helen B. Gelly, MD, FACCWS, UHM/ABPM, FUHM, offered a Q&A to the practical use of HBOT in patients with COVID-19. Knicole Emanuel guided readers with pointers on avoiding Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Also in July, Marcia Nusgart, RPh, advocated for evidence-based coverage and reimbursement.

August

Over the summer, COVID began resurging through variants, complicating patient treatment. Dr. Fife’s August editorial focused on the lingering challenges of caring for patients with wounds during a pandemic. Dr. Regulski, Dr. Gelly and Dr. Shah detailed the adversities they face in their clinics.

Also in the August issue, Ms. Cartwright provided a first look at the new ICD-10-CM codes for wound management in 2022. Ms. Schaum gave readers a self-checklist of the basics of Medicare reimbursement. Tiffany Chin, DPM; Sahar Gholam, DPM; and Kazu Suzuki, DPM, presented a closer look at non-invasive diagnostic methods of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and a brief review of medical, endovascular, and surgical treatments. Dr. Abner gave readers a helpful song for patients to remind them of the importance of caring for the diabetic foot.

September

In September, Ms. Cartwright continued updating readers on the new ICD-10-CM codes. Dr. Shah described how crucial a history and physical is for diagnosing wounds properly. Office-based wound care can offer advantages like autonomy and flexibility in product selection, but Dr. Gelly argued the downside could be isolation and financial liability. Mr. Aviles studied three innovative devices that can provide instant non-invasive valuable information to determine surface tissue oxygenation, visualize pathogenic bacteria, and measure radiant heat from the body.

October

An October article by Melodie Blakely, DPT, CWS, stressed the importance of managing the edema associated with wounds, and looked at research and guidelines. When documenting your wound treatment, does the documented history tell the patient’s story accurately? Ms. Cartwright made suggestions for avoiding inconsistencies in documentation. In Business Briefs, Ms. Schaum took a look at rectifying challenges with the revenue cycle process, and in Consultation Corner, she offered a guide to how paying attention to code descriptions can help physicians avoid losing money.

November

Despite better technology and a seeming decline in lower extremity amputation in the past, are we failing our patients with diabetes as amputations rise? Dr. Bell explored that in a provocative November article. Patients and caregivers found a practical guide to treating lymphedema by Dr. Hettrick and Archana Vatwani, PT, DPT, MBA, CLWT, CDP, CLSSBB, PMP. With COVID-19 continuing to spread, Dr. Regulski took a closer look at how the pandemic is affecting care, particularly for the diabetic foot. Ms. Nusgart updated readers with recent wound care policy developments.

December

As we ended 2021, Vicki Stearn’s article described Patient and Family Advisory Councils, which provide important voices in health care. In the first in a series of slideshows, Charles Andersen, MD, challenged readers to determine whether a wound was bioburdened. Ms. Emanuel wrote about legal issues with Medicare and manufacturer rebates. And Dr. Fife and I gave readers insight into how TWC and the wound clinic will evolve in 2022.

Thank you to all who have contributed to and read Today’s Wound Clinic in 2021, and here’s to a wonderful 2022!

Top 10 TWC Articles of 2021

1. Awareness of COVID-19 Skin and Mucosal Manifestations
Pamela Scarborough, PT, DPT, MS, CWS, FAAWC

2. Insights on Effective Methods of Lower Extremity Perfusion Assessment
Tiffany Chin, DPM; Sahar Gholam, DPM; and Kazu Suzuki, DPM

3. Developing a ‘Cheat Sheet’ for the Ideal Wound Dressing
Frank Aviles Jr., PT, CWS, FACCWS, CLT-LANA, ALM, AWCC, DAPWCA

4. A Look at the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Wound Care Practices One Year Later
Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP

5. When a Wound Specialist Gets a Wound
Shaun Carpenter, MD, FAPWCA, CWSP

6. How Does Your Documentation Measure Up to Medicare Standards? Debridement 101
Donna J. Cartwright, MPA, RHIA, CCS, RAC, FAHIMA

7. New ICD-10-CM Codes for Wound Management Fiscal Year 2022: Part 1
Donna J. Cartwright, MPA, RHIA, CCS, RAC, FAHIMA

8. New ICD-10-CM Coding Guideline Updates for Fiscal Year 2022: Part 2
Donna J. Cartwright, MPA, RHIA, CCS, RAC, FAHIMA

9. What Facilities and Practitioners Need to Know in 2021
Caroline E. Fife, MD, FAAFP, CWS, FUHM; Harriet Jones, MD, FACP; Traci A. Kimball, MD, CWSP; Eric Lullove, DPM, CWSP, FACCWS, FAPWCA; and Jeanine Maguire, PT, MS, CWS

10. COVID Redux in the Wound Center
Caroline E. Fife, MD, FAAFP, CWS, FUHM

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