National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Meets with CMS to Discuss Identification and Treatment of Pressure Injuries

By the WoundSource Editors

Washington, D.C. – January 17, 2017 – The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), which serves as a leading scientific voice for improved patient outcomes in pressure injury prevention and treatment, recently met with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss their new 2016 Pressure Injury Staging System, initially launched in April 2016.

The collaborative discussion between CMS and NPUAP included the NPUAP's 2016 Staging System, clarifying each stage based on recent research and expert clinical consensus, improving the accuracy of pressure injury staging, and further clarification of deep tissue pressure injuries. The NPUAP believes that the new system will allow health care providers to identify and treat pressure injuries earlier and more accurately.

The 2016 Pressure Injury Staging System is the combined result of extensive scientific research and collaboration with national and international providers. "For over three decades NPUAP has worked diligently to be able to bring the very best recommendations based on the most current science to bedside care," shared Mary Sieggreen, President, NPUAP.

As a nonprofit organization with a primary focus on pressure injuries, NPUAP was careful that patient care was central to every step of the new staging system's development. "Patient care starts with prevention and diagnosis," shared Dr. Laura Edsberg, Treasurer, NPUAP, "health care providers rely on staging systems to diligently incorporate new scientific research so providers can give their patients the most effective care."

NPUAP and CMS will continue to collaborate and share scientific expertise. In just a few weeks, a CMS representative will be speaking at NPUAP's Biennial Conference, which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 10-11, 2017. The two-track conference will focus on skin changes at end of life, case study presentations, implementation of the 2016 Staging System and quality measures.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact:

Arafel Buzan: abuzan@douglasgould.com, 646-214-0514 ext 219

About NPUAP
The NPUAP is a multidisciplinary group of experts in pressure injury. The NPUAP's goal is to ensure improved patient health and to advance public policy, education, and research.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of WoundSource, Kestrel Health Information, Inc., its affiliates, or subsidiary companies.