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In any story, the past plays an important role by setting the stage for what is to come. One recurring theme I have noticed, is some colleagues who have been in our field for an extended period of time saying “that’s how we’ve always done it.” We must beware the pitfall of becoming too comfortable with the status quo. Just because something worked in the past, doesn’t mean it’s the way of the future. |
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As an inpatient nurse in a hospital in the 1970s, I would call on the wound, ostomy and continence nurse when we had particularly challenging pressure ulcers to treat. She was the expert, so we all listened carefully and followed her instructions to the letter. One such set of instructions included tape, Maalox, Opsite and a heat lamp. I think we can all agree that times have changed! |
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Today in wound care, we have international associations and practice guidelines, and we must ensure we are holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of care of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Applying the knowledge and experience of the past, we must always strive to improve the present and innovate for the future. |
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Today will always be the most important day, because today influences tomorrow. The current state of wound care is evolving rapidly, and we have to stay informed, up-to-date and committed to continuous learning. |
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One word that is going to drive the state of wound care for the foreseeable future is standardization. Standardization is becoming more and more important. Hospital systems across the country want to be able to provide the highest level of care regardless of location. We want patients to know that no matter where they go in the network, they will receive the highest quality care. More importantly, standardization helps us reduce variances in outcomes and create positive reproducible results. |
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Just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Many professionals come to wound care from all walks of the health care community. It’s important that those seeking to specialize in wound care remember it’s not a specialty you simply jump into. There is a science to each treatment offered at our Wound Care Centers and it is imperative that clinicians take the time to receive the proper training. Remember: practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. |
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