5. Call for help
Your patients should be able to identify when their wounds are show-
ing signs of infection. Give patients a phone number for the provider
they can call when they have concerns.
Warning signs include changes in the wound's drainage, smell or
color. Patients should know that fever could be a sign of trouble. A
proactive response can make the difference between a wound that
can be managed at home and one that requires hospitalization or
becomes chronic.
Sometimes patients think their wounds are infected with pus when
it's actually the natural slough that's produced during the healing
process. A call to their follow-up provider can help sort out a crisis
from a normal part of healing.
"You have to be experienced to know the difference," says Dr.
Gallagher. "Patients are happy when they think they have pus, but it's
actually just slough."
A guiding light
A wound care plan that starts before surgery sets patients up for suc-
cess when they head home. Prep your patient in advance, and they'll
leave your surgical facility with the confidence they need to take care
of themselves. They'll also make fewer trips to the hospital with infec-
tions.
"It makes a big difference," says Dr. Heneghan.
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