APWCA

* Offering a multidisciplinary program, the American Professional Wound Care Association's (APWCA) first annual symposium will be held April 12 to 13, 2002 at Holiday Inn Select, Street Road, Trevose, PA. Topics will include plastic surgery techniques for foot salvage, role of shoes for diabetic foot complications, wound packing and cultures, Charcot vs osteomyelitis, vascular disease, nutritional factors and wound healing, and an update on the latest wound care products and techniques. Physicians may earn up to 15 continuing medical education credit hours; discounted registration fee is available for APWCA members. The symposium is cosponsored by Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and Saint Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, PA; financial assistance was provided by ConvaTec, A Bristol Myers Squibb Company.

* APWCA has established an Insurance Committee to provide information to patients and their caregivers about health insurance programs. Citing that reimbursement to hospitals, skilled care facilities, and home health agencies has relatively decreased-which can impact on the number of qualified professionals available to provide patient care-the Insurance Committee has taken the charge of educating the public through its membership about how reimbursement issues affect practitioners' ability to perform wound care. APWCA is not a lobbying organization, but approaches these issues through its educational directives.

For more information, contact APWCA at 215-364-4100; fax: 215-364-1146; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.apwca.org.