Holy Rosary Welcomes 3M and KCI Representative for Wound Care Class
Miles City, MT - Traditionally, wound healing has been under the supervision of basic nursing practice. Important factors that contribute to successful wound healing include appropriate wound covering management, therapeutic nutrition, mobility and psychosocial support. Nurses play a crucial role in handling and managing acute wounds and chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, bedsores, foot ulcers and venous ulcers.
A 2018 retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries identified that approximately 8.2 million people had wounds with or without infections. Medicare cost estimates for acute and chronic wound treatments ranged from $28.1 billion to $96.8 billion. Highest expenses were for surgical wounds followed by diabetic foot ulcers, with a higher trend toward costs associated with outpatient wound care compared with inpatient. Increasing costs of healthcare, an aging population, recognition of difficult-to-treat infection threats such as biofilms, and the continued threat of diabetes and obesity worldwide make chronic wounds a substantial clinical, social, and economic challenge. Due to the above statistics, it is crucial that nurses as well as other allied health professionals have the most up to date training and education related to wound care and prevention of wounds.
On May 11, 2021, Holy Rosary was honored to have the 3M and KCI representative, Katie Dyer, provide education to our registered nurses. Katie demonstrated basic wound vac application and dressing change, as well as tips and tricks for troubleshooting wound vac alarms. She also provided some education on general wound care and advanced wound dressings. When asked about something she learned during the class Megan Schmitz, RN in the ICU stated, “I thought it was especially neat to see the use of coloplast strips and Eakin rings for wound vac seals! I have used it many times for ostomy care or fistula management systems, but never thought of it for wound vacs.”
SCL Health is a faith-based, nonprofit healthcare organization dedicated to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1864, our health network provides comprehensive, coordinated care through eight hospitals, more than 180 physician clinics, home health, hospice, mental health, and safety-net services in Colorado and the Montana Wyoming region.