by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 31, 2015 | Cassandra Chronicles: Regulatory and Coverage Policy
The field of hyperbaric medicine is under threat from so many different directions that it’s hard to decide which one is the BIGGEST. Helen Gelly and I will talk about this at the upcoming SAWC (Saturday May 2nd, 4:45 PM-5:45). We will have a big Prozac salt lick in...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 30, 2015 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Quality Payment Program, US Wound Registry
I had given up on ever getting any wound care quality measures into PQRS. CMS wouldn’t consider measures without NQF endorsement, the NQF didn’t consider measures that were not in their specific categories (priorities that they get FROM CMS which also funds the work...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 26, 2015 | Fight the Good Fight
I have a scleroderma patient I am really struggling with. I got into wound care in 1990 and it’s wonderful to see all the studies that have been published about new treatments for patients with scleroderma. I was just kidding because there haven’t really been any....
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 25, 2015 | Don't Miss This
This man developed a thrombosis of his left subclavian vein as a result of a catheter. Take a look at the hemosiderin deposits on his fingers. He’s actually got varicose veins on his forearms that you can’t see in this photo. This is a rare case of venous stasis...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 24, 2015 | Cassandra Chronicles: Regulatory and Coverage Policy
Unless you are in one of the 3 states affected by the “preauthorization” requirement for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you may not have been following this issue so let me fill you in. Medicare is rolling out a pilot project in which they are requiring non-emergency...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 23, 2015 | Quality Payment Program
Last week I outlined the penalties for not participating in PQRS. If you haven’t done it so far, you could be looking at a 6% penalty for 2016 or 2017 depending on whether you attested for Meaningful Use of your EHR, not to mention the “Value Modifier” that will kick...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 19, 2015 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality
In the 1990s, before the surgical dressing policy, patients used to come in with paper towels and underwear on their wounds because it was so hard to get dressings. I am seeing this again. It reminds me of the 1990s. Why are we moving backwards when it comes to...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 18, 2015 | Don't Miss This
I am just going to tell you what this one is because I had to get help from Dermatology to figure it out. I was treating the man for a diabetic foot ulcer on the other foot when he came in with this new lesion on the contralateral great toe that had developed over...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 17, 2015 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality
I’d like to set the record straight once and for all about transcutaneous oximetry in assessing patients with non-healing wounds. I am not sure why this is so hard. Let’s begin by agreeing that wound healing is a beautifully physiological designed process which...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 16, 2015 | Quality Payment Program
Last week I talked about the announcement by the Obama administration that CMS intends to tie 50% to 90% of physician reimbursement to some sort of quality based system by 2018. It’s no secret that we are being waved off the highway we’ve been on for many years onto...