The Patient's Voice
Tell Me Your Story – The Undaunted Spirit of Patients with Chronic Wounds
I would like to approach a focus on the patient in an organized way, but since I am not known for being organized, right now, I am just going to solicit more patient stories.
Letter about Cellular Tissue Products / Skin Substitutes Used on Pressure Ulcers
A letter from a physician emphasizing the need for clinical studies of Cellular Tissue Products / Skin Substitutes on pressure ulcers.
Skin Substitute (Cellular Tissue Product) Questions From a Patient – Can Anyone Answer These Questions About Signing an ABN?
This email inquiry is from a real patient who is a retired nurse. I can answer some of her questions but not all of them, particularly the ones around when a patient might be required to sign...
Psoriasis, “A View into Vascular Health” & A Patient I Can’t Forget
Now the thing that keep asking myself is, “How could she have seen so many doctors, and none of them put the pieces together?”
What a Patient Wishes Her Wound Care Doctor Knew About Home IV Therapy
This article is about the difficulty of getting outpatient IV antibiotics – and healthcare provider ignorance of avoidable costs. It’s a must read for every wound care practitioner.
A Long Ago Case of Cutaneous Cryptococcus – That Looked Like No Big Deal
I thought I would post this as a reminder to biopsy patients with immune suppression.
Why Aren’t Patients Up in Arms About Huge Copays for Cellular Tissue Products (CTPs) / Skin Substitutes?
Given the meteoric increase in the use of CTPs, I wonder how many patients and/or families have been hurt by staggering copays?
A Letter From a Patient About Medicare and Inflation
“Doctors should be really angry about the Medicare fraud you’ve talked about… But right now, it’s touch and go whether I can afford to drive to the doctor…”
Check Out This Podcast of “Living with Hidradenitis Supprativa”
Here is another example of why we need to do a better job publicizing the “journey” and lived experience of our patients.
On Your Way Home, Listen to the First Podcast in Our “Patient Journeys” Series
Listen to our interview with Morgan McCoy – and be inspired to interview one of your own patients!
“Again I Can’t Get My Supplies Because of the Lack of Proper Documentation…”
Since the Medicare auditors can do pretty much whatever they want, we have to change what we are doing.
Check Out This Amazing Article on “Treating Patients Like People” and HMP’s New Patient Experience Department
If you are a patient with a story (good or bad) relevant to wound care, we want to post your article on TWC. Message me if you are interested.
New Proposed Rules to Help Protect Patients from Medicare Disadvantage Plans
I haven’t been able to get this patient off my mind. He’s a kind and likable man who was active in his church and living independently, despite an above-knee amputation on one side and chronic...
The Patient’s Perspective: What Wound Care Clinicians Need to Know About Documentation
It’s really frustrating and I wonder what happens to patients who are too sick to advocate for themselves.
The Patient’s Perspective: Things I Wish Wound Care Doctors Would Consider When They See a Patient
It seems like the things that matter to a patient would be just “Good Patient Care 101”, but apparently they aren’t.
“And I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee” – A Patient’s Experience With Excruciating Pain and Redemption
You can bet that after what he went through, Job never looked at life the same way again.
A Patient’s Perspective on Choosing a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Here’s a new post from our Patient Correspondent, Patricia Han, RN, about Medicare Drug Plans. She’s a retired nurse with many chronic health problems who used to be employed by a payer. I always...
Another Tale of the Medicare Disadvantaged: MA Prior Authorization is Needed for the Skilled Home Health Agency to Get Wound Dressings – It’s a Joke, Right?
This process has taken more than 6 phone calls and the patient still doesn’t have dressings, even though he has a home health agency.
Medicare Disadvantage Strikes Again – No Skilled Home Health Services?
Home health services have been abused in the Medicare Fee for Service program, but NOT providing them is not the answer.
“Do It Yourself” Wound Care
I am curious if you are seeing this in your own practice? I’d love to hear more details from you.
Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged #2
Here’s another story from Patricia Han about her Medicare “Disadvantage” plan.
Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged #1
I thought that it would be enlightening to have someone with her credibility provide a detailed explanation of the challenges she has faced as a chronically ill person with Medicare Advantage. I am not foolish enough to think that anyone at CMS will listen, but it could serve as a warning to other patients.
The Undaunted Spirit Award – Be Inspired by Morgan McCoy
Morgan helps me put the temporary challenges of the pandemic into perspective. I think her story will inspire you, too.
Laundry, NPWT and Life after Death – This Week’s Undaunted Spirit
This beautiful lady (who is wearing a KCI VAC in the photo), is herself seriously ill, but she’s making the most of life after death. She is my definition of an undaunted spirit.
Decreasing the Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans When Patients Need a Cellular Product
An increasing percentage of my wound center patients have Medicare Advantage plans offered by private payers. As I’ve discussed on previous blogs, it’s getting very hard to use cellular and/or...
The Undaunted Spirit Award
Here’s a photo of a gorgeous Texas quilt, hand crafted by an octogenarian wound center patient (she’s getting her dressing changed).
The Undaunted Spirit Award
This cane makes me think of the Johnny Cash song, “I’ve been everywhere.”
The Undaunted Spirit Award
Here’s a nifty way to keep track of your phone and your pen if you are in a wheelchair.
The Undaunted Spirit Award
Patients inspire me every day. This lady in her 9th decade showed me a picture on her smart phone (which alone is an accomplishment). She’s at church playing the accordion and the piano at the same...
So do I or don’t I have to sign a release for that? How HIPAA Harms Care.
This problem is unforgivable. It’s also unlawful.
Wheels on Water and the Undaunted Spirit
About 13 years ago, one of my children developed a serious medical illness and I took several months off to be a full time caregiver. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to go back to practicing medicine. I...
The Price of Figs and The Gift of Pain
A reflection on the costliest jar of fig preserves I’ve ever eaten.
The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.