by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 14, 2022 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
The Alliance is bringing together payers (e.g., Humana, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Noridian), regulators/policymakers (e.g., CMS, FDA, NIH, AHRQ), evidence analysis experts (e.g., Hayes, Milliman Care Guidelines), researchers, medical societies, and manufacturers at...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Mar 11, 2022 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
It’s almost been long enough that I can talk about my husband’s death. He died as a result of the most extraordinary extrapyramidal syndrome that I’ve ever seen. I haven’t practiced general medicine for over 30 years, but as soon as I walked into his hospital room I...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 28, 2022 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
What type and quantity of clinical evidence is required by payers in formulating positive coverage policies for products and procedures? If you don’t have a clear answer, you’re not alone. As a board member of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, I invite you to...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 21, 2022 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
As a board member of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, I invite you to our upcoming Wound Care Evidence Summit where we will explore the key question: What type and quantity of clinical evidence is required by payers in formulating positive coverage policies...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 14, 2022 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
The Wound Care Evidence Summit will take place May 19-20, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, MD. If you are involved in the field of wound care (e.g., Chief Medical Officers, researchers, Regulatory Affairs staff, Clinical Association representatives, manufacturers,...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 6, 2021 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
Dear Manufacturer of Cellular and/or Tissue-based Products (CTPs) — commonly known as “skin substitutes”: I feel compelled to explain the math of using CTPs in the hospital-based outpatient department (HOPD). A friend who is a podiatrist just told me about the...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 30, 2021 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight, Nutrition & Wound Healing
This is a 35 y.o. woman with type 1 Diabetes, liver disease and end stage renal disease on home peritoneal dialysis after failed renal and liver transplants. She also has other wounds on her body due to pressure and ischemia. The abdominal wound had been present for 9...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 14, 2021 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight, Nutrition & Wound Healing, US Wound Registry
This is a young man in his 20’s who is a quadraplegic and suffered a bowel obstruction about 6 months before this photograph was taken. The midline abdominal wound is granulated, but still hasn’t epithelialized. Why? There’s no pressure over this area and it doesn’t...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 8, 2020 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy
I understand why companies develop products for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs), even though those are NOT the most common wound problems. It’s because the clinical trials needed to satisfy the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are well...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 13, 2020 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality
I am a huge proponent of better care coordination. This means doctors have to talk to each other. When I need to talk to a doctor who’s cell phone I don’t already have, I cringe. It means I will have to face their office telephone system and I am so DONE with this. I...
