by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 8, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight
Is there a topic that you really want to write an article about for a non-peer reviewed journal? I have been the clinical editor for Today’s Wound Clinic for many years. Even though I have had a career in academics, I think the role of TWC is very important. Peer...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 4, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule for the 2023 Physician Fee schedule CMS IS NOT finalizing the payment approach outlined in the proposed rule in which they proposed to make Cellular and/or tissue-based products (CPTs) part...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 2, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight
“There is no calculating the impact of a doctor who will do whatever needs to be done.” (my paraphrase of a quote by Amy Carmichael) For some reason, my nurses never want me “helping” with the Hoyer lift… but willingness to do whatever needs to be done can have...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 1, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight
When a loved one has dementia, you assume the role of caregiver relatively gradually. In contrast, one generally stops being a caregiver suddenly. For more than a decade, my husband’s illness had been omnipresent – impacting every aspect of my life. When it was over,...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 1, 2022 | Healthcare Payment Policy
I just finished a FREE 4 part series with Kathleen Schaum about keeping money after an audit. Here are the top 10 things that Kathleen Schaum listed as the reasons doctors and hospitals lose money when audited (my paraphrase of what she said): Lack of documentation to...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 31, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight, Lymphatic Imaging & Lymphedema
Check out this interview I did at the recent SAWC meeting in Las Vegas about the concept of “angiosomes” and how they can help us understand the “inside to outside” nature of severe pressure injuries. The implications are big, because it opens the door to new...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 17, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight
Some months ago I gave a Webinar on massive localized lymphedema (MLL). Recently a young man reached out to me with a heart-wrenching email about his wonderful Mom. She’s got MLL and has had multiple bouts of cellulitis. She’s now homebound and giving up hope. He...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 12, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight, Lymphatic Imaging & Lymphedema
This review paper is just out, and is available open source. I will be posting articles for many months to thoughtfully discuss all the information contained in the paper about lymphatic structure and function, lymphatic imaging, the impact of cancer and cancer...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 12, 2022 | Healthcare Payment Policy
There’s an astounding increase in every possible type of Medicare audit – one of which is the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audit. It’s a good idea to keep abreast of all the resources available. Check out RACmonitor and its monthly podcast. The site is an online...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 11, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight, Patient's Perspective
Doctors are supposed to be like parents and not have favorites. However, one of the best things about this field is that just when your attitude begins to flag, a patient comes along who reminds you why you got into wound care — or even why you got into...
