Wound prevention and management in post-acute care sit at the intersection of clinical excellence, regulatory scrutiny, and financial viability. With rising media attention, litigious environments, and strict survey standards, relying on reactive, siloed wound care poses severe operational and legal risks. To safeguard resident outcomes, protect 5-Star Ratings, and prevent costly hospital readmissions, leadership must drive system-wide behavior change through a unified, patient-centered framework.

Crucially, the session confronts diagnostic ambiguity by contrasting terminal skin failure, pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD). Anchored in the PAWSIC Skin Failure Whitepaper and evidence-based guidelines, the presenters demonstrate how precise diagnostic differentiation and standardized documentation protect against survey deficiencies and liability. Finally, the session highlights the vital role of post-acute teams in limb salvage—demonstrating how early intervention, risk stratification, and patient-centered pathways dramatically reduce avoidable amputations, lower rehospitalization rates, and elevate quality of life.

Nurse Learner Outcome:

Learner Objectives:

1. Analyze the differential clinical features distinguishing terminal skin failure, facility-acquired pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) to ensure diagnostic accuracy and defensible documentation.
2. Evaluate external mobile wound vendor partners using the standardized PAWSIC Mobile Wound Group Checklist to ensure accountability, seamless EHR integration, and regulatory survey readiness.
3. Apply a patient-centered, interdisciplinary Wound QAPI framework to optimize staff roles, elevate facility Pressure Ulcer Quality Measures (QMs), and improve overall 5-Star Ratings.
4. Formulate a structured post-acute limb salvage strategy incorporating early vascular screening and patient-centered pathways to mitigate lower-extremity amputation risks and prevent acute care readmissions.
5. Critique current post-acute skin health workflows to identify systemic vulnerabilities in survey readiness, liability risk, and patient/family engagement.