by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 13, 2019 | Miscellaneous Musings, Undaunted Spirit Award
With her permission, I am sharing the photo of this beautiful woman who had a cardiac arrest 6 months ago in conjunction with an acute MI, went into cardioenic shock and was kept alive with the help of a left ventricular assist device. She’s got a host of underlying...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 12, 2019 | Fight the Good Fight
Netflix has a new series called “Diagnosis.” The star is Lisa Sanders, MD, a columnist for The New York Times Magazine which publishes her column, also called “Diagnosis,” in which she presents a puzzling medical case and people from around the world help her figure...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 11, 2019 | Health Information Technology and Wound Care, Healthcare Payment Policy
A few weeks ago we published a manuscript about the development of the Wound Healing Index for Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs). The link is below. What is the VLU WHI? The VLU WHI makes it possible to predict at the initial visit whether a venous ulcer will heal with...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 7, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Here’s a link to the fact sheet on the final rule – stay tuned for my interpretation of its impact on wound management practitioners.
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 7, 2019 | Fight the Good Fight, Health Information Technology and Wound Care
With his permission, I’m posting this amazing photo of my friend and former patient, Kevin – whose mobility limitations do not keep him down. He’s also helping others experience the challenge and excitement of hunting, even if they hunt on wheels. You can support his...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 5, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Here are links to information about the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program and the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rules: Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System: Final Rule and Fact Sheet...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 4, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
It’s finally happened. It’s no secret that many Hospital Based Outpatient Departments (HOPDs) have played fast and loose with the requirement for direct physician supervision of nearly all wound management services. At any rate, the requirement for direct physician...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 28, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Wound Care Compare is Here. I’ve previously blogged about the exciting news that Physician Compare selected 3 USWR QCDR measures relevant to wound care to depict on Physician Compare: Adequate off loading of DFUs, Adequate Compression of VLUs and arterial screening of...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 25, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
“For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7) “Sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind,” is a Bible verse from the Book of Hosea, a prophet of Israel. He was warning the people of a coming judgment for foolish behavior. The phrase is a...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 23, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Five years ago, Dr. Guy Clifton, a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow, neurosurgeon, Congressional aid and author of the book Flatlined: Resuscitating American Medicine, spoke at the fall SAWC in a poorly attended session. Most Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound care practitioners...
