Category Archives: Wound Care

Are you ready for your MEDICAID AUDIT!?!


If you haven’t heard yet, Medicaid is performing audits all over the country and they’re already in the Southeast.  We know just reading those words will stress you out so we thought we’d pass along what we’ve heard as well as a few tips from folks who’ve already gone through this exercise.

What we’ve been told is that Medicaid’s focus will be on a random four month sampling of invoices from a three year period looking specifically at ancillary medical supplies.  According to our sources ancillary has been defined as those supplies and services that are directly identifiable to an individual patient, furnished at the direction of a physician because of special medical needs and are either not reusable, represent a cost for each preparation or are complex medical equipment.  This four month random sample will then be analyzed by the auditors to find charges that should have been billed to other payer sources before it was billed to Medicaid.  That number will then be extrapolated to a three year grand total which will then be disallowed.

Your first question should be how can I combat this?  Unless you’re using a patient charge tracking software package and a Part B billing service you’ll have to do A LOT of leg work.  You’ll have to provide proof that the charges in question were both used and billed properly by comparing them to the resident charts.

A better way to combat this is to use Grove .  Allow us to provide Tracer, our patient charge and inventory tracking software and accredited Part B billing services FREE of CHARGE.   Tracer is a very well-rounded and easy-to-use software package that can also provide all the documentation and reporting you’ll need to make the audit process MUCH less painful.  We can also take care of your Part B billing for Wound Care, Ostomy, Trach and Enteral patients under our provider number.  This service is also offered at no charge to you for both the service and products not to mention our clinical support from our certified Clinical Nurse Consultant team.

We want to make sure that you view us as a resource and not just as a vendor.  That’s why our focus is on being the best medical supply partner to the long-term care industry by providing quality medical supplies and innovative services at competitive prices.  Contact us today to discuss how Grove can help you protect your organization and increase your bottom line.  There’s no sense in fighting this battle alone!

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Wound Assessment Seminar Coming to North Carolina!


We’ve announced a new Wound Care seminar opportunity in Morrisville, NCPartnered with the Wound Care Education Institute we’ll be bringing you this great seminar on Tuesday, November 8th 2011.

https://www.facebook.com/woundcareeducationinstitute

This seminar on wound assessment will focus on the same points of interest as our previous seminars:

  •  Identification – Wound Etiology
  • Tissue Types
  • 2007 New Pressure Ulcer Staging Guidelines
  •  Skin Lesion
  • Wound Pain
  • Documentation
As always this seminar teaches best practices for wound assessment leading to better care and outcomes for patients.  Whether you’re an LPNRNNurse PractitionerPhysical TherapistPhysicianNurse Manager, Treatment Nurse, Wound Care Team Member, Clinical Director, MDS Coordinator, consultant or any other clinician interested in wound care you should attend this seminar.

As an added bonus all nurses who attend will earn three (3) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion.

This session will be from 8:00am to 12:00pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Durham Airport (1500 RDU Center Dr., Morrisville, NC 27560, (919) 840-8088).  For more information and the registration form please contact Shannon Chitty, Grove’s Clinical Nursing Consultant, your Sales or Customer Service Representative or RSVP on our Facebook page!

Space is limited so sign up today!  Through our partnership we can help improve the care you deliver!

Learn How To Assess Wounds Like An Expert!


https://www.facebook.com/woundcareeducationinstitute

Once again Grove is working with the Wound Care Education Institute to bring two great seminars, this time to South Carolina.

Anyone that works with wounds whether they be an LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist, Physician, Nurse Manager, Treatment Nurse, Wound Care Team Member, Clinical Director, MDS Coordinator, consultant or any other clinician interested in wound care should attend.   As an added bonus all nurses who attend will earn three (3) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion.

Both seminars will cover the following topics:

  •  Identification – Wound Etiology
  • Tissue Types
  • 2007 New Pressure Ulcer Staging Guidelines
  •  Skin Lesion
  • Wound Pain
  • Documentation

The first session is October 6th from 8:00am to 12:00pm at the Radisson Hotel Charleston Airport (5991 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406, (843) 744-2501), the second session is on October 7th also from 8:00am to 12:00pm at the Embassy Suites Columbia-Greystone (200 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia, SC 29210, (803) 252-8700).  For more information and the registration form please contact Shannon Chitty, Grove’s Clinical Nursing Consultant, your Sales or Customer Service Representative or RSVP on our Facebook page!

Space is limited so sign up today!  Through our partnership we can help improve the care you deliver!

NASVH Summer Conference


We’ve just returned from the NASVH Summer Conference in Burlington, VT and had a great time catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

I have to say that it’s so great to be surrounded by folks who’s primary focus is caring for those who have served our great country!  We take tremendous pride in being a medical supply distribution partner for several of the State Veterans Homes and in showcasing new and innovative products to help provide outstanding care.

This year we highlighted the Aeda Aeria 8Pro mattress replacement system, a product that many of our customers have had great success with in both preventing and healing pressure ulcers.  But don’t just take our word for it, please click here to review its clinical report and contact us for success stories.

Another piece of information that will be of interest to you is cost savings.  If you’re renting Group II surfaces to reduce the likelihood of or heal pressure ulcers you could save thousands of dollars a month by purchasing this mattress.  Alternately the 8Pro is very competitively priced so it’ll be worth your while to do a cost comparison to what you’re currently buying.  Please contact your Sales or Customer Service Representative for more information.

Again we’d like to say that it’s an honor to work with the State Veterans Homes, we truly appreciate what you do and our partnerships.  Keep up the great work!

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Just to follow up: Memorial Day is Fast Approaching


On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price to defend the United States and the principles upon which America was founded.  These brave service men and women are without a doubt the best of our country!

With that in mind Grove and the carriers we utilize to ship your orders will be closed on Monday May 30, 2011 in observance of this important holiday.  Please mark your calendars and plan ahead to ensure that you have the products and services you need by Friday May 27th.

Contact your Grove Sales Rep or Customer Service Rep to discuss the  2011 Memorial Day Carrier Holiday Schedule.

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Grove’s Atlanta, GA Wound Care Seminar


Grove and Links Medical Products have worked together to bring Wound Care Nurses and other healthcare professionals invaluable information on Wound Assessment in North and South Carolina and now we’re headed to Georgia. If you missed our last wound care seminar in Concord, NC you can now catch the latest installment in Atlanta, GA.   The session is on May, 25 from 9:00a to 1:00p at the Hampton Inn Perimeter hotel in Atlanta.    Upon completion Nurses will receive four contact hours of Continuing Education.

If you’re in the Atlanta, GA area please don’t miss this opportunity to meet, discuss and network with your  colleagues all while learning best practices for assessing wounds. All you need to do is contact us for the Wound Care Seminar application in Atlanta, fill it out and send it in.  Michelle Moore, RN, MSN, WCC will be our speaker and the topics that will be discussed are:

  • Identification – Wound Etiology
  • Tissue Types
  • 2007 New Pressure Ulcer Staging Guidelines
  • Skin Lesions
  • Wound Pain
  • Documentation
  • Clinical use of Manuka honey

Please contact the Wound Care Education Institute Shannon Chitty, RN, BN, WCN or your Grove Medical representative to reserve your spot today!

Running Like Crazy


Well we’ve just returned from the South Carolina Health Care Association Convention and Trade Show and man were we busy!

Grove takes tremendous pride in being a partner that brings new and innovative products to our marketplace and again we did just that.

This year we highlighted a brand new product from Blue Chip Medical that is designed to both prevent and treat pressure ulcers.  For us this meant that there wasn’t a moments rest on the trade show floor, for you this meant you were again gaining insight into one of the years most innovative products.  The Airus Fluidized Air Mattress System accomplishes therapy  by diminishing surface pressures below capillary closing pressure which improves blood flow to the skin, reduces pain and accelerates healing.  Actually the National Center for Biotechnology Information findings suggest that air-fluidized beds are more effective than conventional therapy, particularly for large pressure sores.

There are other products out there, some of which have been around for quite some time.  The edge this model  has over its competition is that it performs at the same level yet  is very cost effective.  I strongly suggest you contact your Grove Medical representative for a live demo and to discuss pricing, this product could set you apart from your competition just as it has done for us!

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Preventative Action, Read This Article


With the ever rising cost of healthcare it’s time for us to focus on prevention.  According to a study by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2004, about 159,000 U.S. nursing home residents (11%) had pressure ulcers;  stage 2 pressure ulcers being the most prevalent.  Thirty-five percent of nursing home residents with stage 2 or higher (more severe) pressure ulcers received special wound care services.  What this means for you as a healthcare provider is that you’re now focusing on reactive, costly measures instead of providing appropriate care.

Enter the Aeda Healthcare Aeria series of powered surfaces, all of which are Group II surfaces.  The Aeria 8 Pro  specifically is the product I’d like to highlight for you.  This mattress replacement system is constructed from 21 x 8 inch transverse cells that cyclically inflate and deflate in an alternating pattern.  Incorporating cell in cell design with a three cell alternation cycle and CPRrelease at both the control unit and head of the mattress the 8 Pro combines optimum user comfort with superior clinical performance.

The Aeria line by Aeda is fantastic at both preventing and healing pressure ulcers all the way up to and including stage IV wounds.  Contact your Grove representative directly or call into our office for pricing, it may be one of the best things you do for your facility and your patients.

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Hey! Honey!


Honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times. Within the last decade microbiologists have made it possible to treat wounds with a medicinal grade honey which received approval from the FDA in 2007.  Manuka honey is all natural with a very high antibacterial  potency that not only provides a moist wound healing environment for the tissue in wound  beds, but also optimizes the healing process.  Medicinal honey cleanses, facilitates debridement, reduces edema, lowers the pH, and acts as a natural deodorizer in the wound bed. 

Grove Medical carries two brands of Manuka honey based wound care products.  The first is Medihoney manufactured by Derma Sciences, the second is Manukamed brought to you by Links Medical Products .

Please contact us today if we can be of any help to you!  You may also contact our Clinical Nurse Consultant for more in-depth discussions.

The Healthcare Note by Grove Medical

Our Next Wound Care Seminar


Once again Grove and Links Medical Products are teaming up to bring Wound Care Nurses and other healthcare professionals invaluable information on Wound Assessment.  Lunch will be provided and upon completion Nurses will receive four contact hours of Continuing Education.

If you’re in the Charlotte, NC area please don’t miss this opportunity to meet, discuss and network with your  colleagues all while learning best practices for assessing wounds.  Michelle Moore, RN, MSN, WCC will be our speaker and the topics that will be discussed are:

  • Identification – Wound Etiology
  • Tissue Types
  • 2007 New Pressure Ulcer Staging Guidelines
  • Skin Lesions
  • Wound Pain
  • Documentation
  • Clinical use of Manuka honey

Please contact the Wound Care Education Institute Shannon Chitty, RN, BN, WCN or your Grove Medical representative to reserve your spot today!