Wound care certification: The grin without a cat

摘要

The aforementioned discussion contains a bewildering number of similar sounding organization names and a multitude of abbreviations. It seems neither feasible nor wise to gain every certificate for which one is eligible. While the initial fees may seem affordable, it is worth reiterating that recurring annual fees can significantly increase the total cost of certification over time. So which should you choose? Perhaps we should ask the Cheshire Cat. "Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked the Cat. 'That depends on where you wish to go? ' responded the Cheshire Cat. 'I'm not sure, ' Alice answered. 'Then, ' said the Cat, 'it doesnt matter which way you go. '" -Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Is there a better answer? The science of chronic wounds surpasses the standard training of most healthcare professionals. The Wound Healing Society Education Committee acknowledges the need for recognition of expertise in the management of chronic wounds. We envision a certification process that requires a standard body of knowledge and competence appropriate for the clinicians' scope of practice. To be effective, we believe that this certification must be tied to ongoing "maintenance of certification" that includes a program of continuing education and experience. This will ensure the consumer, including patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and healthcare organizations, that the practitioner is up to date in the rapidly evolving field of wound care. The challenge to the wound care community will be to develop a uniform certification process that meets high standards and is broadly recognized by the rest of the healthcare community. In other words, what we need is a "grin with a cat.".