MDS Alert

Check your answers for Surgical Wound Care Quizzer on page 4.

1) False

Rationale: Surgical wound care does not include post-operative care following eye or oral surgery, according to the RAI Manual.

2) M1200F (Surgical Wound Care)

Rationale: Although the process of surgically debriding a pressure ulcer does not in and of itself create a surgical wound, the surgical process of excising the pressure ulcer AND using a flap and/or graft to close it means the area can now be considered a surgical wound, according to the RAI Manual. Thus, you would code the care you or teammates are providing under item M1200F (Surgical Wound Care) instead of M1200E (Pressure Ulcer Care).

3) True

Rationale: "Surgical wound care for pressure ulcers that require surgical intervention for closure (e.g., excision of pressure ulcer with flap and/or graft coverage) can be coded in this item, as once a pressure ulcer is excised and flap and/or graft applied, it is no longer considered a pressure ulcer, but a surgical wound," the RAI Manual says.

4) G) All of the above.

Rationale: "Surgical wound care may include any intervention for treating or protecting any type of surgical wound," the RAI Manual says.

Check your answers for What Do You Think? on page 7.

1) False: Mechanical lifts are safer for both patients and healthcare workers, according to the Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) publication on Safe Patient Handling.

2) False: "Research shows that relying on 'proper' body mechanics (including use of back belts) is not, by itself, an effective way to reduce injuries. There is no such thing as safe manual lifting of a patient," OSHA says, in its Safe Patient Handling brochure.

3) False: "Manual lifting can cause micro-injuries to the spine," OSHA says. "Although workers may not feel the effects immediately, cumulative micro-injuries can result in a debilitating injury. Experts recommend that lifts be limited to 35 pounds or less. Good health and strength may actually put workers at increased risk because their peers are much more likely to seek their assistance when manually lifting patients."

4) False: Keeping the proper lift equipment in places where staff can easily and conveniently access it means that they'll probably use it, OSHA suggests.

5) May seem true ... but false: While the price tag of important medical equipment is often shocking, the costs of employees wearing out their bodies are exponentially more expensive. "Costs associated with back injuries in the healthcare industry are estimated to be $20 billion annually. Research shows the use of assistive technology such as mechanical lifts reduces injuries to workers and lowers costs associated with workers' compensation, lost productivity, and turnover." OSHA says.