Surgical wound care

[GenaP]

Is surgical wound care considered a daily skill? I have a patient who's surgical wound requires packing with iodoform twice a day. Rehab wants to discharge home. I'm wondering if this patient can be covered under Medicare A for surgical wound care BID but I can't really find any guidance on the topic. 

[Talino]

A surgical wound usually heals in less than 10 days unless comorbidities complicate the process.  The MBPM Chapter 8 p33 specifies a prescribed dressing and aseptic techniques as a skilled service. This would require detailed documentation to represent wound characteristics and resident’s response to treatment daily. Additionally, care planning to promote wound healing and/or ongoing health teaching for self-wound management may support a skilled level of care.