LAKE GENEVA, Wis., — In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI) is proud to be a partner with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Wisconsin Health Care Association, Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Wisconsin Directors of Nursing Council, National Alliance of Wound Care(R), West Bend Mutual Insurance, Golden Living, Metastar, Kindred Health Care Foundation and GuideOne Insurance, in a statewide initiative directed at educating registered nurses working in long-term care facilities in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers (also known as bedsores). The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel defines a pressure ulcer as a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony area, as a result of pressure.
As part of this collaboration, WCEI will provide wound care training at a reduced cost for 200 experienced registered nurses working in Wisconsin long-term care facilities. This training will make those nurses eligible for certification in wound care through the National Alliance of Wound Care. The National Alliance of Wound Care is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of excellence in wound care through the certification of wound care practitioners in the United States.
In a study conducted by the Nursing Credentialing Research Coalition (a coalition of 23 certifying bodies in nursing and other disciplines), nursing certification was found to have a dramatic impact on the practice outcomes of those certified nurses. According to the Department of Health and Family Services for the state of Wisconsin, the course and certification will more than double the number of wound-certified professionals working in the state.
Chronic wound care costs in the United States are $20-$25 billion annually. As the population ages, it is expected that the costs to treat chronic wounds will continue to rise. Secretary Karen Timberlake, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services stated at a June 11, 2008 press conference, “Pressure ulcers are preventable afflictions, and we as leaders in health and long-term care must do all we can to reduce their occurrence.”
According to John Sauer, the executive director of Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, “This collaborative effort will enable Wisconsin’s nursing facilities to become even more proficient in the care and treatment of elderly residents with complex skin conditions. It also will provide measurable preventive health benefits to our residents by further increasing the clinical skills of our caregivers.”
WCEI co-founder Nancy Morgan, RN, MBA, WCC, states, “This training and certification is an important step in helping the state of Wisconsin meet quality care goals for its citizens.”
Wound Care Education Institute is a national education company that provides wound care training for nurses, physicians, physical therapists and physician assistants.
