AAWC News

The AAWC is pleased to present this extended edition of 2015 news and grateful to OWM for providing the Association the opportunity to highlight AAWC activities and programs throughout the year. As the leading multidisciplinary, not-for-profit wound care organization in the United States, the AAWC’s mission is to advance the care of people with and at risk for wounds. Please make the valuable decision to join the organization.

AAWC President-Elect selected by the membership

Gregory A. Bohn, MD, FACS, ABPM/UHM, FACHM, CWSP was elected by the membership to the position of AAWC President-Elect. An AAWC member since 2006 and veteran of the Board, Dr. Bohn previously served as Member-At-Large and recently relinquished the Physician Board Member position to assume his new role on August 15.

Dr. Bohn is a member of the Board Member Orientation Task Force and co-editor of AAWC newsletters. Apart from his service to the AAWC, he is board-certified in surgery and hyperbaric medicine and certified in wound care. His past work includes tenure as the Midwest Medical Director for a large wound care company covering a 6-state area. Currently, he resides with his family in Michigan. The AAWC is honored Dr. Bohn provides so much service to the organization and looks forward to his astute leadership both as President-Elect through April 2016 and as President (April 2016–April 2018).

Physician Board Member vacancy filled

Gary Gibbons, MD, FACS was appointed by the AAWC Board of Directors to the position of AAWC Physician Board Member, effective October 31, 2015. Dr. Gibbons fills the vacancy created by the change in status of Dr. Bohn to President-Elect.

Dr. Gibbons is internationally known as an advocate for patients with diabetes who suffer with complications that put them at risk for limb loss. He is also well known as a vascular surgeon and mentor and is especially focused on bringing interdisciplinary care to the forefront in the field of wound healing.

Dr. Gibbons is Professor of Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine; Medical Director at South Shore Hospital Center for Wound Healing in Weymouth, MA; has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers; and is a highly sought after international lecturer. He has served as an active member of the AAWC Healthcare Public Policy Committee and is eager to take on additional leadership roles during his tenure on the AAWC Board of Directors.

Dr. Gibbons, a leader in our field for 40+  years, has served within multiple medical, surgical, and governmental organizations. He will bring a unique perspective to our Association. Anyone who knows Dr. Gibbons considers him a staunch and relentless advocate for providing a team approach as consistent and excellent care is delivered to patients.

Call for nominations for the 2016 AAWC Board of Directors

The AAWC Call for Nominations to the AAWC Board of Directors is taking place through November 16, 2015. All active members received an official email with complete information on how to nominate a qualified candidate (which includes self-nomination) on October 21, 2015. Please contact Laurie Hiltebeitel at info@aawconline.org with questions or for more information.

AAWC Board Members’ responsibilities require a great deal of time and effort. They are called on throughout the year to make policies and other decisions, requiring active participation. Although election to the board is an honor, it is in no sense honorary. Please keep the following points in mind:

1. Board members take leadership roles as officers, committee chairs, and/or liaisons to other organizations.
2. Board members actively assist in developing and maintaining relationships with collaborating organizations, corporations, and other entities or agencies.
3. In general, each board member works to get the job done.
4. All board nominees must be AAWC members in good standing for at least 1 year before taking office (or since April 15, 2015).
5. Those elected are expected to attend their first board meeting, which is held in conjunction with Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Spring, April 13-17, 2016. This year’s board meeting will be held April 13, 2016. Those elected will receive at least 6 week’s notice in order to make plans to attend.
6. Board members officially take office at the AAWC Annual Membership Meeting held during SAWC Spring on April 15, 2016.

If you know of an AAWC member who is interested in serving on the board, please ask his/her permission first and then nominate him/her. If you are interested in serving the AAWC, please feel free to nominate yourself. Six seats are open on the AAWC Board of Directors for the 2016–2018 term: Executive Committee (President Elect, Treasurer), Board Members (Consumer, Member-At-Large, Nurse, Physical Therapist). Additionally, an International Representative will be appointed by the Board in accordance with the AAWC Bylaws.

After November 16, the AAWC Nominating and Board Development Committee will review all nominations received, conduct interviews, and develop a slate of candidates. In January, members will receive an official email notification regarding the slate of candidates and instructions for online voting. Elections will take place through early February, and candidates will be notified about the status of their election by mid-February.

Not quite ready for board service and want to volunteer on a committee or Task Force? Feeling energized and want to be a part of the action? There are many ways to become involved, and many of the Task Forces do not require lengthy terms of service or extensive hours. To learn more about the opportunities available, visit www.aawconline.org/volunteer.

AAWC’s 20th Anniversary – a year of celebration

What an exciting year this has been for the AAWC! Celebrations at SAWC Spring and SAWC Fall were wonderful opportunities for members to meet with friends and colleagues. With the fiesta-style party at SAWC Spring and the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Membership Meeting at both conferences, members had the chance to recognize this milestone in the history of the AAWC. The Association looks toward the future with your support.

AAWC Clinical Track for SAWC Spring 2016

The Association invites SAWC attendees to take part in its second annual AAWC Clinical Practice Track in Atlanta, GA from April 14–17, 2016 at SAWC Spring. The Association strives for its program to cover not only what to do to advance wound care as a professional practice and career, but also to empower the learner with the knowledge about how to do it. The AAWC’s first track at SAWC Spring 2015 was a huge success — 4 of the top 6 rated sessions were from this new program.

A sampling of 2016 sessions includes:

• The Wound-Function Cycle: The Forgotten Aspect of Wound Care
• The FUNdamentals of Comprehensive Skin Assessment
• Surviving the Shift from Volume to Value with Wound Care Quality Reporting
• The Best and Worst Surgical Case of My Life!

Understanding the difference between SAWC and the AAWC

The SAWC provides a venue at which the interdisciplinary wound care community can gather. It is the official meeting site of AAWC members, but the AAWC does not own the meeting. The AAWC is a not-for-profit association sustained by its Number 1 financial resource: tax-deductible membership dues and donations. AAWC membership is a value because it provides many benefits throughout the year, including a 20% discount to the SAWC conferences. The discount on registration to SAWC Fall or SAWC Spring can cover annual membership dues. Savings can be endless, not to mention all of the valuable networking and leadership opportunities that exist.

SAWC Fall Nursing and Physician Scholarships

Through a partnership with SAWC, the AAWC has the honor of selecting the AAWC member winners of the SAWC Nursing and Physician Scholarships. The scholarships provide 1 nurse and 1 physician a complimentary conference registration (a $500 value) and recognition during SAWC. Congratulations to SAWC Fall Scholarship Winners: Joan Junkin, MSN, APRN-CNS (Nursing) and Virendra Parikh, MD (Physician).

Members, please check the AAWC website for future SAWC scholarship submission dates, which are typically open from the start of conference registration through a couple of weeks before the first early registration cut-off date. This ensures persons not selected can still register at the best possible AAWC member-discounted super saver rate.

AAWC Summer 2015 Membership Recruitment Drive winners

The AAWC conducted various drives over the summer to increase membership. William Bailey, MD and Jorge Valdes, DPM each won a free SAWC Registration ($500 value) for their participation. Others won educational posters or limited edition AAWC 20th Anniversary polo shirts. Be sure to keep your membership current and recruit colleagues for your chance to win a free AAWC membership renewal this January. Watch for future incentives to drive membership, and you could be the next lucky SAWC registration winner.

AAWC website resources expand

The Association is proud of the aawconline.org website and the resources it provides to the public. The Professional Resource Center provides information for wound care professionals including:

• AAWC Wound Care Glossary: the evidenced-based and validated glossary provides more than 300 wound care terms with definitions
• Education: listing of wound care conferences
• Guidelines: highlights the AAWC Pressure Ulcer and Venous Ulcer Guidelines and implementation tools
• AAWC Wound Research Poster Tools: provides effective, methodologically rigorous information for dissemination of findings.

AAWC International Consolidated Guidelines Task Force (ICGTF) validation surveys

In order to improve consistency in guidelines, the ICGTF continues to work toward building unified, evidence-based, interdisciplinary wound care standards. Many thanks to those who took part in the Venous Ulcer Guideline validation survey this summer. Your efforts and expertise on the validation survey are greatly valued. Your input will ensure the guideline is clear, concise and relevant.

The Pressure Ulcer validation survey is available. Please take part in this newest survey and invite your wound care colleagues to join in the validation effort; the survey is located on the home page of the AAWC website (www.aawconline.org).

AAWC Scholarship Program supports members’ travel and education

Among many of the AAWC’s worthwhile programs, the AAWC Scholarship Program offers opportunities for AAWC members to obtain financial support for worthy endeavors that are in line with the organization’s mission. Scholarship funds are available for wound care teaching, learning, and travel.

AAWC is an active participant in public policy and coverage issues

The AAWC Healthcare Public Policy Committee (HPPC) serves the organization by identifying and responding to legislative and regulatory issues that impact the practice of wound care. This dedicated multiprofessional team represents a true cross-section of the AAWC membership with the participation of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and industry consultants. Members include: Scott LaRaus, PT; Vickie R. Driver, MS, DPM, FACFAS; Eric Lullove, DPM; Brandon Hawkins, DPM; Gary Gibbons, MD; Jeanine Maguire, PT; Mary Haddow, RN, WOCN; Naz Wahab, MD; Kathy Schaum, MS — reimbursement consultant; Jenny Hurlow, MSN, GNP-BC; and Peggy Dotson, RN, BS — Chair of the HPPC and an independent reimbursement consultant.

As the active voice of the AAWC, the team has been presenting the membership’s position on issues and concerns and suggested modifications to policies, regulations, and Proposed Rules at (CMS); the Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding Group (PDAC); and the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). The team also has been discussing issues related to the patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and wounds with the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC).

The everyday role of the HPPC is to inform the AAWC Board of Directors and Membership of proposed government regulations affecting coverage, coding and payment, and pending legislation that can impact members and their patients. The team does this by reviewing the annual Proposed Rules issued by the CMS for all the various parts of the Medicare Prospective Payment System (including hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, long-term care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, inhospital rehabilitation facilities, and the physician payment schedule). From May through July, these Proposed Rules are released to allow for public review and input. The HPPC identifies any pertinent issues related to wound care in these rules and develops, when appropriate, feedback comments to the CMS. In August/September, the CMS reissues the Proposed Rules with the public input and any new changes intending to be enacted. Once again, the HPPC reviews these revised documents, identifies any issues, and develops a response, if indicated, to the CMS, before the Rules are released as in final form for the following year enactment.

In addition, the HPPC monitors legislative and policy changes at the FDA, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that issues technical reviews of devices and technologies, and for the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) on local coverage determinations (LCDs) that are wound care-related. Also, the HPPC reviews changes to national coverage determinations issued by Medicare (eg, pneumatic compression therapy).

When appropriate, the team develops and submits comments with the AAWC’s perspective on issues HPPC members identify as not clinically accurate or beneficial for patients. As a means to provide timely information to the AAWC membership, the HPPC develops and will post specific alerts on the AAWC website to keep members aware of the ever-changing health care environment.

The HPPC also engages with AAWC corporate sponsors on state-specific regulations that impact wound care, nursing homes, and other technology coverage issues. In addition, the HPPC collaborates with the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders (also known as the “Alliance”) on industry-wide wound care issues. The AAWC, as a participating association of the Alliance, can help provide a unified voice to the CMS and other payers and legislators on issues in coverage policies and payment changes impacting AAWC members and their patients.

There has been a flurry of activity in which the HPPC has been involved in 2015 to support or advocate for legislation and policy changes, including: 

• Participated in the MEDCAC meeting at CMS on PAD of the lower extremity where Dr. Gary Gibbons delivered the AAWC comments/issues for the treatment of PAD and issues related to wounds
• Submitted formal comment letter to the MEDCAC Committee
• Participated in the CMS DME-MAC public meeting on the draft surgical dressing policy. Mary Haddow, RN, CWOCN delivered the AAWC comments at the meeting
• Submitted formal comment letter to the DME-MACs on the surgical dressing policy as a follow-up action to the meeting
• Submitted comments to the MACs concerning new LCD policies:
  • First Coast Service Options regarding their newly issued draft LCD for application of skin substitutes graft for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and venous ulcers in the lower extremity
  • Final policy released — AAWC submitted further modification/clarification request and received response to resubmit as a new Request for Reconsideration
  • Holding on a reapplication: evaluating the response from members on the execution of the new policy as written.
• Submitted comments to the CMS for the Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
• Collaborated on comment letter to CMS with the Alliance on the Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule
• Requested the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) revise regulation AFL 10-01 (Clarification for Reporting of Healthcare Acquired Pressure Ulcers) for a facility reporting adverse events for suspected deep tissue injury (SDTI) pressure ulcers (PU). Two prior revisions were issued after the AAWC requested changes in 2014 and early 2015, but these continued to require facility to report a Stage II – Stage IV PU that evolves from a SDTI on admission as an adverse event
  • CDPH issued AFL 15-03.1 that correctly identified SDTI and no longer requires facilities to report an adverse event if a SDTI present on admission evolves into a Stage II – Stage IV PU
• Issued member ALERTs identifying changes in policy or regulation that impact members:
  • Physicians: NPP—ICD-10 announcement
  • DME-MACs rescind decision to code some honey-based products as A9270 (noncovered)
  • Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) audit results and tips for documentation
• Reviewed request from the Continuum of Care Coalition for the AAWC to support House Bill H.R. 1184, a bill to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise Medicare coverage and payment for advanced surgical dressings in skilled nursing facilities and home health settings
• Reviewed the Deconsolidation of Wound Care Overview paper and the Lewin Report used for the Congressional efforts to support passage of Bill H.R. 1184
  • Recommended the AAWC Board not support legislation at this time until the Levin Report projection models and care frequency assumptions are corrected and the 5-year cost estimates are recalculated to 2015 CPI levels for the spend and savings proposed to Medicare.

The AAWC Healthcare Public Policy Committee continues to support an important overall objective of the AAWC, which is to provide the best quality, evidence-based care to the patients served.  

Educate the Generalist committee provides resources for nonwound specialist practitioners

The Educate the Generalist Committee (ETG) is charged with bringing wound care awareness and education to qualified clinicians and health care personnel in the primary medicine community. This year, the committee updated the ETG webpage with the new AAWC Corporate Sponsors’ free accredited education information. In addition, a press release has been sent to the public highlighting this education and encouraging those in health care to learn more about wound care.

The current focus of the ETG committee is to develop presentations that will be used by the AAWC Speakers Bureau. The first covers PAD. Once the PAD PowerPoint presentation has been approved by the AAWC Board of Directors, the committee will move forward with additional presentations. Another focus of this team is to determine plans to target general practitioners’ nonprofit associations so ETG programs will become part of their conferences and meetings.

Utilize the AAWC Speakers Bureau and/or become a member

The AAWC Speakers Bureau is an excellent resource for conference planners and others, and the program has continued to grow in 2015. Members can become involved with the Speakers Bureau by obtaining an application on the Speakers Bureau Page at https://aawconline.org/speakers-bureau-program/. If accepted, the speaker’s information will be listed on the AAWC website for easy access by potential program managers, including conference planners and corporate event organizers. Please note the AAWC helps initiate the contact between speaker and client, but all financial and/or logistical arrangements are made separately by the interested parties. Please help to spread the word about this worthwhile program.

AAWC and Health Volunteers Overseas continue partnership

For several years, the AAWC has partnered with Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) to help improve the quality of wound care practice around the world. Currently, there are sites in India (1), Haiti (2), and Cambodia (2, 1 pediatric site, 1 adult site). The AAWC shares a philosophy with HVO: the best way to improve care for all is to work with the local clinicians and to teach them wound care principles and practice, which builds capacity within their community. The results of these efforts are that knowledge and skills remain even after volunteers leave. Further, these sites often educate other clinicians in their community and students in their clinical training, enlarging the AAWC footprint.

Since the summer of 2014, 10 volunteers have traveled to Cambodia and 4 to Haiti. (India was not able to take any volunteers during this time due to internal matters, but will soon be welcoming them again.) Some of the topics taught included the use of advanced dressings, wound irrigation, compression for amputation sites, appropriate usage of antiseptics, nutrition, offloading and pressure redistribution, use of a wound care order sheet, and appropriate antibiotic usage.

The AAWC provided an $8,000 grant to HVO in 2015 to help AAWC members reach their desired destinations; therefore, HVO has travel assistance grants available to help make the trips more affordable. The amount of the stipend varies by site: up to $1,000 for Haiti, $1,500 for Cambodia, and $2,000 for India, reflective of the relative costs of the travel. Don’t let cost be an issue. Contact HVO to learn more about the sites, what is involved, and available funding. Then, apply for placement in order to share your expertise. Learn more at www.hvousa.org.

Wounds In Need (WIN) — a resource for patients and caregivers

The AAWC WIN Task Force’s goal is to support AAWC Patient and Caregiver (P/C) members. The team focuses on providing current, evidence-based education via quarterly AAWC WIN Newsletters (emailed 3 times per year; the spring newsletter is sent via the postal service to support those P/C members who might not be comfortable with or have full access to a computer). The AAWC WIN Newsletter is available on the AAWC website at https://aawconline.org/professional-resources/aawc-wounds-in-need-win-newsletter/. Please take time to read the newsletters and print copies for your waiting rooms. P/C membership is free for life; please encourage your patients and their lay-caregivers to join at www.aawconline.org.

AAWC Public Awareness Task Force (PATF) news

The AAWC educational brochure series is growing again and includes:

• The ABCs of Skin and Wound Care (updated 2015; see below)
• The SKIN You’re IN
• DRESS and COMPRESS for SUCCESS
• TAKE the PRESSURE OFF!
• The ABCs of Wound Care, 2015 edition

The AAWC PATF has been extremely busy making AAWC’s 20th Anniversary a very special year for AAWC members and their patients. In addition to releasing the revised edition of the initial brochure in the educational series at SAWC Spring (ABCs), members of the task force diligently put the finishing touches on the newest brochure in the series, DEBRIDEMENT: Clean Up to Heal Up. This brochure, which debuted at SAWC Fall in Las Vegas in September, provides valuable patient information on this most important topic. In keeping with the entire series, the new brochure will be translated into Spanish in the near future.

The dedicated and talented volunteer members of the PATF who create the educational brochures bring knowledge, experience, and perspective from many disciplines. The members are Autumn Bell, PT; Zemira Cerny, BS, RN, CWS; Jose Contreras-Ruiz, MD; Laura Dahl Popkes, RN, CWOCN; Susan Dieter, MS, RN, CWS; Chris Eremento, LPN, CWS; and Cindy Van Steelandt, PT. AAWC members interested in developing evidence-based patient education are welcome to join this dynamic team. Please contact Karen Strauss at kstrauss@aawconline.org for more information.

The educational brochure series is available to download under Patient/Caregiver Resources on the AAWC website at www.aawconline.org. The brochures can be printed and distributed without cost or permission if used for educational purposes. Please note: In order to avoid printing and assembling the brochures, purchase reprints on quality, glossy paper in large or small quantities for your office or clinic from the AAWC Store at https://aawconline.org/store/.

AAWC Newsroom and YouTube — resources for the media, lay public, and you

The Media Task Force has been working to improve the AAWC’s ability to respond to media requests and provide stories on the importance of the problem of chronic wounds to the world. A newsroom page on the AAWC website directs reporters and others to information of interest. For example, many are not aware there are more people in the US who have a chronic wound than have Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS combined. The task force wants people to understand why the AAWC’s mission — to advance the care of people with and at risk for wounds — is so important. Visit https://aawconline.org/newsroom/.

Additionally, help is needed to fill the Association’s YouTube page (www.youtube.com/user/AAWCWoundCare/videos) with informational videos for the public and nonwound specialist clinicians. Think about the topics used frequently in educating patients. Contact rcordrey@earthlink.net to discuss topics. Tips and resources on making a video easily will be discussed. Help make the AAWC the online resource for learning about wounds.

The AAWC also is looking for a spokesperson. Please let AAWC know of any patient, or a patient’s relative, who is famous (actor, musician, politician, author, athlete inspirational speaker) or part of a noteworthy event, profession, or situation who may be interested in sharing their story. If anyone is interested, please connect him/her with the AAWC office to learn more.

AAWC Corporate Sponsorship — successes continue

The Association relies on annual corporate sponsorship funds to achieve its mission. Corporate sponsors include skin/wound care product, device, and service corporations. Corporate sponsorship more than doubled in 2015. Sponsors recognize the benefits of supporting AAWC and playing a key role in helping the AAWC to be a voice and resource to clinicians, patients, legislators, payers, the FDA, and the CMS.

Corporate sponsor representatives are invited to be part of the AAWC Corporate Advisory Panel (CAP). Acting as equal partners with AAWC leadership, CAP allows close interaction with AAWC officers as well as other key wound care industry leaders. The panel meets quarterly to discuss mutual concerns and areas of interest. In addition, the Association works to keep AAWC industry supporters aware of key regulatory issues.

Please encourage your company to become an active, involved, and collaborative industry sponsor of the AAWC. Together, the care and lives of people who suffer with wounds will be improved. The AAWC thanks all of its sponsors, who include: Integra Life Sciences, Smith & Nephew, 3M, Acelity, Hollister, Medline, Molnlycke, Organogenesis, Osiris Therapeutics, Boyd Technologies, Celgene, Dipexium Pharmaceuticals, and MiMedx. Visit https://aawconline.org/corporate-sponsors/ for information about the 2016 Corporate Campaign.

AAWC Online Store — consider a unique wound caring gift for colleagues this holiday season

The AAWC Store at https://aawconline.org/store/ has quality items available for purchase:

• Educational wound and skin care brochures (5 informative choices, including the new DEBRIDEMENT: Clean Up to Heal Up brochure
• Educational wound image series (5 unique CDs)
• Patient education posters (a great size at 11” x 17” – pay only for postage and handling)
• Membership mailing list (name and address on labels when approved for educational purposes)
• Wound care clinic directory as PDF or Excel spreadsheet (various contact information to use for your needs)

$20 for 20th anniversary giving campaign challenge

During the AAWC 20th Anniversary Membership Meeting held in conjunction with SAWC Spring 2015, the Association began the $20 for 20th Anniversary Giving Campaign Challenge. In a moment of spontaneity about the mention of this challenge, members began enthusiastically sharing their hats and passing them around among rows of generous members. As a result, more than $1,000 was raised for the Association in a little more than 5 minutes. The campaign is continuing through 2015. It is easy to participate online from the “Donate” button on the AAWC home page. Please help the AAWC by providing a modest tax-de16ductible contribution today. Proceeds will be applied to the projects with the most need.

AAWC Career Center has revolutionary job matching technology

The AAWC Career Center now provides cutting-edge job-matching technology with targeted network distribution. Found at the AAWC website, the new center offers job seekers an enhanced user experience driven by Real-Time Job Matching™, which instantly matches job seekers to open postings based on their skill set, experience, and preferences. Job seekers also have access to job matches from thousands of network sites. Job seekers who register will be able to view relevant job matches and will spend less time searching for the right position and more time applying to relevant jobs.

Employers who post jobs on the AAWC new job board receive unprecedented access to top wound care professionals within the AAWC community. Included with this new service is TheJobNetwork™, the largest recruitment ad network of job sites in North America, resulting in up to 4 times better response than the leading national job board. TheJobNetwork™ reaches millions of active and passive job seekers across the Internet on local, niche, and leading aggregator sites as well as social networks. In addition, the new site allows hiring managers to save valuable time and effort with Real-Time Job Matching™, which automatically screens, grades, and ranks applicants.

About AAWC

As the leading interprofessional organization dedicated to wound healing and tissue preservation, AAWC’s mission is to advance the care of people with and at risk for wounds. Be sure to join the AAWC for near daily updates and alerts on Facebook and LinkedIn.

This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.