Addressing the Educational Needs of All Attendees

With basic, intermediate, and advanced lectures, the 20th Anniversary Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin & Wound Care: The Conference for Prevention and Healing offers sessions for practitioners at all levels of experience in managing wounds. The conference, to be held October 23 to 26, 2005, in Las Vegas, NV, also provides attendees with plenty of opportunities to network and share experiences with other practitioners and to learn about the latest in skin and wound care product technology in the exhibit hall.

Basic-Level Lectures

Attendees who are relatively new to skin and wound care may benefit from these lectures:

* F314 Tag Changes: Impact on Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management; Monday, October 24-Late last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the revised F314 Tag, which is specifically related to pressure ulcers in long-term care. In this session, Courtney H. Lyder, ND, will explain the changes in the revised F314 Tag, including avoidable and unavoidable pressure ulcers; discuss modifiable and unmodifiable pressure ulcer risk factors; and present updated information related to pressure ulcer prevention, treatment, and documentation. He will also briefly touch on changes in the F315 Tag related to skin care and the F309 Tag. This session is supported by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

* The Lowdown on Lower Extremity Wounds; Monday, October 24-Lower extremity wounds are a challenge for both the patient and the health care provider. In this session, Lawrence A. Lavery, DPM, MPH, will share with attendees assessment and intervention techniques for foot and ankle wounds. Diagnosis and documentation for these specific types of wounds will also be discussed.

* Off-Loading the At-Risk Lower Extremity, Tuesday, October 25-James McGuire, DPM, FAPWCA, will discuss the various forms of off-loading devices used to manage wounds in ambulatory patients. These include the total contact cast, removable and nonremovable orthotic walkers, felted foam, the Carville healing sandal, and more. Dr McGuire will also present a new classification system for determining the appropriate type of off-loading device based on wound depth and biomechanical instability.

Intermediate-Level Lectures

Attendees who already have a grasp of the basics of skin and wound care may be interested in these lectures:

* Power Tools for Wound Care: Electrical Modalities; Monday, October 24-All of the available "power tools" for wound care plug into electrical outlets for activation, but the physical energies they deliver to wounds to enhance healing vary considerably. These energies include electrical and magnetic fields, vacuum, ultraviolet and infrared radiation, ultrasound, laser, and fluid (water or saline). Luther C. Kloth, MS, PT, CWS, FAPTA, will discuss select physical modalities and the effects they have on wound healing.

* Wounds: What's Diabetes Got to Do with It? Tuesday, October 25-Lower extremity wounds are a major source of morbidity and disability for people with diabetes and are related to both microvascular and macrovascular changes that cause neuropathy and poor tissue perfusion. Pamela Scarborough, MS, PT, CDE, CWS, will look at methods to prevent wounds in these patients, including foot care, off-loading, and footwear. She will also discuss special considerations for treating wounds in patients with diabetes, including debridement and dressing choices.

* When Palliative Care Is Needed; Tuesday, October 25-Palliative care, according to the World Health Organization, is care that (1) affirms life and views death and dying as part of a normal process, (2) neither speeds nor delays death, (3) provides relief from pain and suffering, and (4) offers support to patients and families. Given that body organ systems proceed through a "shutting down" process at the end of life, it seems logical that the skin would also be at increased risk for breakdown. Diane K. Langemo, PhD, RN, FAAN, will discuss palliative care of the individual, with a focus on skin care at the end of life.

Advanced-Level Lectures

Attendees who want a more in-depth look at the research behind wound care practices might select these sessions:

* Wound Surface Warfare: Topical Antimicrobials; Monday, October 24-This session, presented by Liza Ovington, PhD, CWS, will focus on the facts about preventing and treating wound infections. Reducing the bacterial levels in the wound is essential for promoting healing and achieving wound closure. Clinicians need to know cost-effective ways to achieve this goal, including the use of topical antibiotics, cleansing agents, and wound treatments.

* Skin Substitutes and Alternatives; Tuesday, October 25-Welcome to the 21st century of wound care, where bioengineered skin substitutes and skin replacement alternatives are becoming more commonplace in the management of chronic wounds and burns. In this session, Jamie Shores, MD, will differentiate between temporary and permanent skin substitutes; describe the synthetic, collagen-based, and culture-derived skin replacements; and provide instruction on the clinical indications, applications, precautions, and tips for optimizing outcomes.

* Modern Care of the Venous Patient; Tuesday, October 25-Venous insufficiency presents clinicians with the ongoing challenges of reducing edema and preventing ulcers while trying to maintain the patient's mobility. Ronald A. Kline, MD, will present current treatment options available, their indications, application methods, and research on effectiveness.

For more information, visit the conference Web site, http://www.symposiumonwoundcare.com, or call 1-800-346-7844, ext. 7750.