Adviser LeadingAge New York Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | Page 13

Significant Improvement...

(continued from page 11)

presented by HealthPRO® and ACP® related to application of electrical stimulation (estim.) to
facilitate and accelerate the healing of diabetic, vascular and decubitus wounds. Based on the
evidence, a protocol to use estim with a small subset of patients was established. HealthPRO®
Physical Therapists worked in concert with the Jewish Home wound care nurse to apply either
pulsed shortwave diathermy and/or high volt pulsed current using ACP’s estim equipment
(MegaPulse 2® and OmniStim 500 Pro®).

DESIGN

Phase Two: Staff Education
HealthPRO® and ACP® ensured that physical therapists selected for this special project
received extensive training; each therapist was required to complete CEU courses with
emphasis on evidence-based wound healing evaluation and management. Moreover, physical
therapists were expected to demonstrate specific clinical competencies (as with utilizing estim
modalities, wound care/dressing skills, etc.) Also, ongoing training and mentoring from ACP®
and HealthPRO® provides therapists with continued learning experiences and support.
In addition to building a team with exceptional clinical skills, therapists were also trained
on how to effectively monitor and document residents’ progress using the PUSH Tool. (The
Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing developed by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.)
A quick, reliable tool to track changes in wounds over time, the PUSH Tool is loaded into
the therapy documentation system (HealthMAX®), making it easy for stake-holders to assess
progress with a click of a button.
Notably, therapy and nursing staff were also trained and worked together to develop processes
to appropriately identify and document residents in need of intervention. Likewise, training
was conducted to ensure appropriate billing practices.
Phase Three: Roll-Out of Treatment Intervention
A small group of three patients were the first to receive therapeutic intervention, as defined
by the protocol. Following the successful rollout in the initial group, the treatment group was
expanded to 19 patients over a six-month period.
Phase Four: Evaluate Outcomes
The PUSH Tool made it simple to track and document changes using the HealthMAX®
electronic documentation and outcomes system. As such, automated reports were generated
and reviewed each week by therapy and medical staff. To date, positive changes have
been noted in various clinical parameters across the board such as: exudate amount (62%
improvement), tissue granulation (41% improvement), as well as other factors (skin integrity).
Chart 1

Upon Discharge

Change

Skin integrity – Back
2
4.0

7.0
(wounds fully healed)

3.0

Skin integrity – Coccyx
2
5.0

7.0
(wounds fully healed)

2.0

3.4

1.3

Skin integrity – Sacrum

#of Patients

8

Initial Eval

2.1

Queens-Long Island Renal Institute
New Hyde Park, NY

HEALTHCARE

•
•
RETAIL
•
HOSPITALITY
•
HISTORIC RESTORATION
•
RESTAURANT
•
INSTITUTIONAL
•
WORKPLACE

LEED

304 Hudson Street, Suite 500
New York, NY 10013
T 212.462.4200
F 212.462.4788

www.tobinparnes.com

Phase Five: What’s Next: The Future of Wound Management
As a result of demonstrating such an impressive improvement in wound care outcomes, Jewish
Home proudly acknowledges a recent grant award through the Cohn Foundation. This grant will
be utilized to expand wound care services so therapy staff can treat even more complex surgical/
non-surgical wounds utilizing another modality – pulse lavage. (HealthPRO® is scheduled to
initiate this next phase on behalf of Jewish Home within the next few months.)
(See Significant Improvement on page 14)

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