AMDA Takes the Lead on Pressure Ulcer Education

Abstract

AMDA is preparing to introduce the long-awaited update of its pressure ulcer guideline. It has been a “daunting but incredibly rewarding task,” to take the 1996 original Pressure Ulcer guideline and the 1999 Pressure Ulcer Therapy Companion, and combine them into the new interdisciplinary clinical practice guideline, stated the American Medical Directors Association.The evidence-based, updated guideline, “Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management in the Long Term Care Setting,” covers the revised federal regulations on pressure ulcers and updates staging, according to the 2007 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (www.npuap.org). It also discusses unavoidability; distinguishes pressure ulcers from venous, arterial, diabetic, and ischemic ulcers; and removes practices that were experientially based.In addition, there will be a session at the AMDA Annual Symposium on March 7, 2008, entitled “An Update on the Clinical Practice Guideline for Pressure Ulcers in the LTC Setting,” to update the essential components of the prevention and management of pressure ulcers in LTC institutions. Most important, it will cover updates that have occurred since publication of the last guidelines. A second session, “Advanced Technology in Wound Care: An Evidence-Based Review for Treatment of Nonhealing Ulcers,” will be presented the same day.In the meantime, resources on pressure ulcer detection and treatment can be found on the Clinical Corner dedicated to the topic at www.amda.com/tools/clinical/pressureulcers.cfm.Ms. Vance is the director of clinical affairs at the American Medical Directors Association. AMDA is preparing to introduce the long-awaited update of its pressure ulcer guideline. It has been a “daunting but incredibly rewarding task,” to take the 1996 original Pressure Ulcer guideline and the 1999 Pressure Ulcer Therapy Companion, and combine them into the new interdisciplinary clinical practice guideline, stated the American Medical Directors Association. The evidence-based, updated guideline, “Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management in the Long Term Care Setting,” covers the revised federal regulations on pressure ulcers and updates staging, according to the 2007 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (www.npuap.org). It also discusses unavoidability; distinguishes pressure ulcers from venous, arterial, diabetic, and ischemic ulcers; and removes practices that were experientially based. In addition, there will be a session at the AMDA Annual Symposium on March 7, 2008, entitled “An Update on the Clinical Practice Guideline for Pressure Ulcers in the LTC Setting,” to update the essential components of the prevention and management of pressure ulcers in LTC institutions. Most important, it will cover updates that have occurred since publication of the last guidelines. A second session, “Advanced Technology in Wound Care: An Evidence-Based Review for Treatment of Nonhealing Ulcers,” will be presented the same day. In the meantime, resources on pressure ulcer detection and treatment can be found on the Clinical Corner dedicated to the topic at www.amda.com/tools/clinical/pressureulcers.cfm. Ms. Vance is the director of clinical affairs at the American Medical Directors Association.