Affordable Care Act

By Dr. Mark Hinkes, DPM I recently read a synopsis about how Obamacare will affect the type of health care services that will be available in the marketplace and the age groups that will be helped and hurt the most by this new law.1 Not really knowing much about Obamacare, I read the article and ended up feeling deeply disturbed and shocked at what Mr. Obama and the Congress have unleashed upon us. The news is not good for patients with wounds and for those who practice wound care.

By Lindsay D. Andronaco RN, BSN, CWCN, WOC, DAPWCA, FAACWS Public policy is an aspect that affects every day practice for most wound, ostomy and continence nurses, but is something that we do not generally think about. One health policy topic that is in the forefront of my mind is how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is looking to change the process for how patients access or DME products. This change in public policy would affect the access of these necessary products to our patients.

By Lydia A. Meyers RN, MSN, CWCN Today's health care changes are a necessity. Unfortunately, both the country's economy and overspending with abuse of the system contributed to this need for change. What are the predictions for the future? How can educated health care professionals prepare for the future and protect themselves? How will these changes affect wound care and wound care nurses? Within this blog, I will try to answer these questions with information gained from life, education, lifelong research, critical thinking, and looking outside of the box.

By Paula Erwin-Toth MSN, RN, CWOCN, CNS As we say goodbye to 2013 and usher in 2014, most of us reflect on the past and plan for the future. What does 2014 mean when we look ahead to wound care? This past year saw health care dominating the news in the USA; add a government shutdown, political divisiveness that polarized and in some cases paralyzed the nation, and of course continued worldwide economic and political upheavals, and the overall challenges can seem overwhelming.

By Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, FACCWS, DAPWCA, CLTC National Nurse's Week (May 6-12) clearly influenced me for this month's blog topic. I think about teamwork among nursing staff members. A joint effort is not only paramount in delivering quality health care, but can also help us with job satisfaction. It makes me think of a favorite quote by Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." We can refer to teamwork in many different ways, but one thing remains certain: pulling together results in positive outcomes.

By Michel H.E. Hermans, MD With a recent acute and serious vision problem, I have had to visit three ophthalmologists (all with different specialties) and a neurologist. I have undergone a series of tests, on the eyes as well as an MRI of the skull, brain and orbita, tests for the coagulatory system, atrial fibrillation and an ultrasound of the carotids.

By Catherine T. Milne, APRN, MSN, BC-ANP, CWOCN There's a lot to be said about change, and much of what you say depends on which end of change you are on. Those of us who are early adopters of new products, technology or ideas get an adrenaline rush with just the hint of change. We love that feeling of freshness— finding the bumps in the road, meeting the challenges head on and solving the issues at hand. Then we help those who come after us—mentoring them over the hurdles we've overcome as the pioneers in a new territory. We are not early adopters, we are early adapters.

By Paula Erwin-Toth MSN, RN, CWOCN, CNS, FAAN As we embark on our journey into 2017, many are concerned about the road ahead. A new President and GOP dominated Congress have promised to make health care reform a priority. There have been numerous articles and opinion pieces written about the path these changes will take and what they will mean to patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike.