Palliative Wound Care – Part 1
Wounds are commonly encountered at the end of life, a fact well known by hospice workers and caregivers. There is a need for palliative wound care, but little exists and public policies do not focus on palliation. Knowing the characteristics of the patients and wounds can provide an evidence-based foundation to foster development of appropriate and cost-effective palliative treatment for these patients. This presentation will combine this information with known and evidence-based wound care techniques to demonstrate a palliative approach to wounds.
Workshop goals and objectives:
- Properly assess a wound and determine if palliation is appropriate
- Develop a comprehensive strategy for palliation of various types of wounds–pressure, arterial, malignant, neuropathic and stasis.
- Discuss alternative treatment modalities, including biotherapy
Palliative Wound Care – Part 2
This presentation will review the magnitude and scope of the problem, including types of wounds encountered, and characteristics of patients with wounds, and the number and percent of persons involved. Goals of palliative treatment and ways to achieve these goals with practical applications for palliative wound treatment will be reviewed. Study results will be shared showing significant healing with palliative wound care measures. Even at the end of life, with severe comorbidities and fatal disease conditions, palliative wound care can significantly enhance the quality of life for these patients.
Workshop goals and objectives:
- Define proper support surfaces to enhance care of patients and their wounds
- Discuss interdisciplinary approach with surgery and vascular surgery as indicated
- Manage symptoms of chronic wounds, especially “pain and odor”
Speaker: Aletha Tippett, MD, Owner and Physician, Aletha W. Tippett, MD
Aletha Tippett, MD initially trained and worked as a chemical engineer, with a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri. She is now a board-certified fellow in family medicine, receiving her MD from the University of Cincinnati. She is also board certified in hospice and palliative care, pain management, and two wound specialties, CWS and WCC. She is a private consultant in wound care and limb salvage, having treated nearly 20,000 wounds to date. She is a member of the International Biotherapy Society and is an active biotherapist, using maggots and leeches frequently in wound care.
Aletha is a published author in wound care, holds a patent for a wound dressing, and has established The Hope of Healing Foundation, dedicated to limb salvage and innovative wound healing. She is married with three grown daughters and is an active community volunteer, doing medical care for the homeless in Cincinnati.