CMS Tightens Up Pressure Ulcer Classification in Long-term Care

Revised Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Section M: Skin Conditions greatly expands the process of skin assessment in nursing homes.  The accompanying Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Instruction Manual has instructions on how to identify and code pressure ulcers and...

Updated Pressure Ulcer Guide Goes into Second Printing

The Pocket Guide to Pressure ulcers authored by myself and Elizabeth Ayello RN PhD has sold over 11,000 copies and is now going into its second printing.  Published by the New Jersey Hospital Association, the new version has been updated with consideration of Centers...

Determining the Avoidability of Pressure Ulcers

One of the biggest challenges in caring for patients with pressure ulcers from a risk-management  standpoint is determining whether the ulcer was avoidable.  The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has recently come out with a statement that “Not all pressure...

Geriatrics Review Syllabus Audio Companion: Review Of Pressure Ulcers

January 8, 2011 The Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS7) Audio Companion is designed to keep professionals up to date on geriatric medicine, and also for doctors who are preparing for Board Examinations.  Dr. Jeffrey Levine recorded the audio version of a review of...

Pocket Guide to Pressure Ulcers: How I Took Those Photos

Many people have asked how I took the high quality photos of wounds in my recently published Pocket Guide to Pressure Ulcers.  I’ve been photographing pressure ulcers and other skin conditions in elderly persons since my geriatric fellowship in 1985.  The photos in...

Teaching America How to Assess Wounds

Last week I presented at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS) Train-the-Trainer program in Las Vegas for the introduction of Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 which will go into effect October 1, 2010.  This assessment tool will impact 17,000 nursing homes...