1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Elizabeth McCalley, Managing Editor, WoundSource

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) result from venous incompetence and venous hypertension, and they are the most common ulcers affecting the lower extremity. Clinical data show that human skin allografts may help facilitate healing in chronic vascular wounds, including VLUs. Practical knowledge of cellular and tissue-based products is imperative in providing these advanced wound management options for healing.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Alexis Padgett, Event Manager, WoundCon

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an adjunct treatment approved for the management of chronic wounds. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the scientific source for HBOT indications, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved HBOT use for various conditions. Given the risk of fire related to the use of 100% oxygen, HBOT facilities and clinicians need to know the acceptable threshold of dressing materials that are deemed safe to be inside the HBO chamber.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Catherine Milne, APRN, MSN, ANP/ACNS-BC, CWOCN-AP

Skin tears are among the most prevalent acute wounds in all health care settings. At-risk patients, including older adults, should be identified early and preventative measures implemented. In patients with skin tears, appropriate dressings can be used to protect the wound from worsening and to prevent infection.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Alexis Padgett, Event Manager, WoundCon 

Atypical wounds typically fail to respond to standard of care. Medications prescribed for chronic conditions and certain supplements used by patients may adversely impact healing. Deprescribing and using complementary approaches may lessen the impact of medications and other causes of atypical ulcers.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Elizabeth McCalley, Managing Editor, WoundSource

Amputation is a life-changing event for which strong support is vital in obtaining best long-term outcomes for the patient. Patients facing amputation need a multidisciplinary team providing education, emotional support, nutritional support, and physical therapy before and after surgery. Earlier initiation of rehabilitation is recommended in preventing complications and optimizing outcomes.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, FACCWS, DAPWCA, Clinical Educator, WoundSource

Breaks in the skin can lead to a change in pH, which can affect skin healing. An unbalanced pH can delay wound healing and thus should be recognized and corrected early in wound management to encourage optimal outcomes. Practical knowledge of complex interactions in the wound microenvironment is important in selecting best treatment options.  

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Elizabeth McCalley, Managing Editor, WoundSource

The heel is the second most common anatomical location for pressure injuries, which can lead to osteomyelitis, limb amputation, and even death. Preventing heel pressure injuries by offloading is essential in at-risk patients. Patients with immobility, diabetes, leg spasms, and impaired perfusion are all more susceptible to pressure injury development and should have prevention strategies in place early in care.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, FACCWS, DAPWCA, Clinical Educator, WoundSource

Antimicrobial dressings should be used when wound healing is delayed by biofilm or bioburden, but selecting a suitable dressing can be challenging. Some antimicrobial dressings promote wound healing in certain wound types while being detrimental in others. Choosing an appropriate dressing from the wide array of products is essential for optimal outcomes.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Alexis Padgett, Event Manager, WoundCon

Clinical data indicate that collagen-based dressings may manipulate wound biochemistry and target imbalances in wound chronicity. When selecting an advanced wound care collagen dressing, wound care professionals must consider the type and source of collagen, features, format, and bioactive technology of the dressing, for optimal outcomes.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Elizabeth McCalley, Managing Editor, WoundSource

Pressure injuries are generally understood to be caused by soft tissue compression between a support surface and a bony prominence, but pressure injuries persist despite offloading maneuvers. Do pressure injuries occur at the level of an artery proximal to the lesion related to low mean arterial pressure? If so, a terminology change from “deep tissue and stage 4 injuries” to “vascular occlusion pressure injuries” may be warranted.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Alexis Padgett, Event Manager, WoundCon

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a therapeutic approach designed to combat antibiotic resistance by using antibiotics only when necessary. Applying AMS principles in wound care can help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and thus ensure safer and more effective care for patients with infected wounds.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, FACCWS, DAPWCA, Clinical Educator, WoundSource

Diabetic patients face a multitude of challenges, including complex wounds. A total of 25% of persons with diabetes will develop a diabetic foot ulcer. Shockwave therapy is a viable solution that can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities to advance diabetic wounds toward healing.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Elizabeth McCalley, Managing Editor, WoundSource

Patients with diabetes need consistent monitoring to prevent diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and other complications. Best management practices are essential in reducing the risk of DFUs, amputation, and patient morbidity. It is important to educate the patient on preventive measures and proper foot care techniques at every clinic visit.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Alexis Padgett, Event Manager, WoundCon

A fistula is a connection between two organs that normally do not communicate with one another. Although negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is normally used for chronic and traumatic wound healing, efficacy of NPWT has been reported in certain types of fistulas. NPWT is therefore considered a viable alternative for fistula treatment.

1.00 CME Credits | 1.00 Contact Hours

Moderation by Tiffney Oliver, Vice President, Wound Care, NACCME

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) account for 70% to 80% of lower extremity wounds. Pathophysiological factors include reflux and/or obstruction. When VLUs do not heal after stand therapy, including compression, patients require a minimally invasive surgical procedure to repair faulty valves and remove blockages.