Current Legal Issues in Providing Wound Care in the Home

Abstract

Personal injury claims arising from wound care in the home are a frequent source of frustration for providers. Increasing malpractice premiums, unavailable coverage, and scrutiny of wound care results have exacerbated these pressures. As patients increasingly receive wound care in the home, claims will increase. To develop effective strategies to meet these challenges, it is important to understand why exposure exists, where it exists, and where it does not exist. Personal injury claims arising from nursing wound care sound in either negligence or malpractice. These claims differ fundamentally and create different types of exposure. Appreciating these differences is important in developing strategies to effectively manage the particular risks and to understand the impact an increase in nursing expertise has on the exposure.