ABWM Newsletter June 2017
Pressure Ulcer or Pressure Injury?
The Board of Directors of the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) held their most recent meeting on April 21, 2017.  One of the issues discussed was the terminology used on the three ABWM examinations related to pressure.  Until recently, the accepted terminology was based off of the 2007 staging definitions from the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP).  In April of 2016, a consensus conference occurred and changed the terminology from pressure ulcer to pressure injury.  There has been debate in the examination committee meetings as to which terminology was most appropriate on the examinations.  The Board discussed the issue and felt it best to be consistent with terminology across the three ABWM examinations.  Despite the fact that the NPUAP has endorsed this new terminology, one issue in particular the Board had with the change was that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services still uses the term pressure ulcer in the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases, commonly known as ICD-10.  The Board voted to continue to use the term pressure ulcer at this time, but would revisit the issue in the future, particularly if the ICD-10 coding system changes.

Ed Mahoney, DPT, CWS
ABWM Exam Chair
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If you have changed your physical address, email address, phone number, or place of work, please update your information in 'my certification portal' on our website. 
 
June is Wound Healing Awareness Month (WHAM!)
The month of June is meant to recognize the challenges experienced by individuals whose lives are affected daily by chronic wounds bringing awareness to the general public of the support given by Certified Wound Specialists. There are millions of cases of chronic wounds in America. By example, over two million Americans will suffer from venous leg ulcers in their lifetime. Americans are spending over $50 billion for wound care annually, with that number only going up. Please visit the WHAM! website for more information as well as WHAM! merchandise for your wound care professionals and staff to help bring awareness to this very important topic. For additional information on WHAM!, please contact Sibel Clifford at sclifford@abwmfoundation.org.                                                  
Meet Rene Amaya, MD, CWSP ®

My name is Dr. Rene Amaya and I am the founder of Pediatric Wound Care & Laser Specialists in Houston, Texas. Our practice is unique in that we focus on infants and children who have suffered wounds through various mechanisms. Whether it is a tiny 26 week premature infant who has suffered an IV extravasation, a toddler who has experienced an accidental burn injury or a teen dealing with a chronic open wound from a pilonidal cyst, we approach each patient as if they were our own children. Pediatric wound care is challenging since we often must be creative when treating a wound when no guideline is published or properly sized dressing is readily available. Challenged by our colleagues to lead and contribute to the knowledge base of pediatric wound care, we have been active in lectures, scientific research posters and published articles.  Finally, recognizing that mothers remained concerned regarding their child's healed albeit scarred wound, we have added laser scar revision to our practice as well.

When I initially received my credentialing as a CWSP, a neonatology colleague asked, "How many pediatricians are credentialed as a CWSP?" I responded likely very few if any to my knowledge. He jokingly pointed out "You might be the only one in the universe!"

Meet Jackie Loosley, RN, CWCA  ®

     My journey started after nursing school working in a skilled nursing facility as a floor nurse. I was always especially interested in wound care and I was lucky to have a great wound care nurse at the skilled facility where I was employed. We didn’t cover a lot of wound care in nursing school, so I constantly sought after our wound care nurse’s advice and expertise. When she left the skilled facility to work in acute care, I was offered the job. My employer provided my training for my first certification, WCC, but I also wanted to obtain a CWCA certification.  I prepared on my own for the CWCA exam by studying each section in the CWCA preparation guide thoroughly and applying what I had studied in my work as a wound care RN. I felt well prepared for the exam and ultimately passed!

     I have two mentors that encouraged me to certify with the American Board of Wound Management: Apryll Southworth, LPN, CWCA and Erin Harms, CWS. Apryll encouraged me to certify as a CWCA and helped me prepare for the applications process and the exam. She was the first one I called to tell that I had passed the exam (after my husband). Erin Harms, CWS is the most wonderful wound specialist any wound nurse could ask for, and we are so lucky to have her in our community. She also encouraged me to certify and gave me topics to study and obtain thorough understanding, as she felt strongly that a CWCA should be a knowledgeable clinician. She is always available to consult on any wound or wound treatment, and she is always willing to jump in and give you hands-on assistance with any patient. I am very thankful for both of these women!


Meet Madeleine Allard, RN, BN, CWS ®

I am a Canadian nurse that graduated many years ago.  I have worked a lot overseas in Central/South America and West Africa as a volunteer nurse. In 2004, I went to West Africa and there were so many wounds that I ended up caring for these patients without formal training in that field. I did wound care to the best of my knowledge, and I started to ask others with more experience to teach me.  I really wanted to help these suffering people.  I studied on my own and challenged the ABWM exam which I didn’t pass the first time. I didn’t get me discouraged because after this first attempt I got a better understanding of the material I had to study. The following year I passed!!!!

Being a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) opened recognition for me and the mission I direct in Togo with the Togolese Medical authorities.  Even though we had great success in the past treating the wounds of our patients, they became only interested in giving us support after I presented my certification with the American Board of Wound Management.  Now, we have patients referred to us from the Hospital and we have our own little clinic in Central Togo West Africa. 


Who is recently certified?
Congratulations to those who were recently certified or recertified! The ABWM would like to recognize all Associates and Diplomates who received or updated their CWCA®, CWS ® , or CWSP ®  credentials from March 16, 2017 through June 15, 2017.

  The American Board of Wound Management is currently the  only  board offering multidisciplinary certification in wound care that is accredited by the  National Commission for Certifying Agencies  (NCCA).

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