Wound Care,Prospective Payment System,and the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse

Abstract

The advent of the Prospective Payment System (PPS) caused the management of Johns Hopkins Home Care Group (JHHCG) to create new strategies for wound care. JHHCG estimated that approximately 25% of home care referrals involved wound management. Among these strategies included the role development of the wound ostomy continence nurse (WOCN). This role included project planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluation as well as direct patient care and clinical consultation. Other strategies that have been discussed in a previous article included the development of wound care TIERS and pathways. Wound Care 2000 education was conducted agency-wide for all clinical staff members and included detailed instruction in the use of the wound TIERS. A wound product vendor fair was included to provide clinical staff members with familiarity of wound care products. Outcome Based Quality Improvement (OBQI) activities at JHHCG have included wound care, particularly surgical wounds, as an initial project.