Education... The best available through: National and Regional conferences, Newsletters, E-Mail News Updates, consultation services for every topic from application of clinical medicine, complex cases, to the business of running a successful practice or wound care clinic, and MORE

• National Conference FULL SCOPE EDUCATION for the provider with years of experience to the provider new to wound care
  - Multidisciplinary with cutting edge education such as Latest technologies as well as courses on the fundamentals of wound care
  - General Lectures, Breakout sessions, Interactive panel discussions: optimize treatment protocols with other disciplines
  - Faculty  selected as experts in their fields and communication skills as great educators

• The Essentials: A Review Course perfect for Wound Care Certification Prep or just updating your fundamental skills

• Regional Conferences around the US and several overseas. (Up to 14 yearly on many topics or themes and offered in many geographic areas)

• Other sources in addition to conferences include: Monthly Medline Indexed Journal, Conference Notes, Web related, E-News Updates and many more!!
   

• Designations for members that meet a minimal set of requirements. The designations are beneficial demonstrating the interest and background of the member in wound care. The designations are: Fellow, Diplomate, Associate  (the designation Master is reserved to recognize select World Opinion Leaders)
   

• Provide Access for Health Care Providers......a voice to key decision makers in CMS, related agencies and general insurance industry:......one clear and concise message on matters of importance for coverage of services and supplies
   

• Receive Synergy, the APWCA printed newsletter!!

• Subscription to Advances in Skin & Wound Care, the Medline indexed monthly journal

• Breaking news items in wound care communicated by:  E-mail News Updates monthly, Email News Briefs as needed on hot issues in wound care, CMS, monthly, weekly or several times weekly pending the importance of the news issue. APWCA keeps members informed!!

• Sign up for our On-Line Directory of members
   

• Attend seminars at discounted rates

• Affordable extremely reasonable membership fees -- a full service medical membership organization

• Insurance Initiative --- unique---Patient and Provider Advocacy
  The APWCA mission of “providing education” pertains to health care professionals as well as the lay public, patients and their caregivers for patient advocacy. The APWCA  also offers provider advocacy by members participating and interacting with CMS, other governmental agencies and the insurance industry in general serving as a resource for commentary and live testimony on matters that deal with the allowance and coverage for services and supplies and the related coding and reimbursement.  The APWCA is not a lobbying organization but approaches these concerns as educational opportunities. This is an important function of the Association and gives members access to key decision makers that establish Medicare and insurance guidelines that affect practice and can impact on patient outcomes. A small sample of issues that  exemplify some of these areas of concerns are:
  

  • Global fees that are not appropriate for wound care

  • Bundling of procedure codes

  • Length of stay regulations that do not consider the co-morbid conditions of patients

  • The inefficiency of the need for over-documentation for required services

  • The indiscriminant disallowance for services and supplies that are obviously needed including the frustration of denial for payments after approval was attained; disallowance for services/supplies without accountability and apparent impunity

  • Need to increase nurse/patient ratio

  • Reform home health care rules and regulations that impede the dispensing of care

  • Long term care facilities and wound care, liability, educational resources, proper funding to support facilities and more!
     

  Easily affordable membership fees makes APWCA one of the very best methods to become involved in every aspect of current and future applications of wound care.  As payers move toward a reimbursement based on "pay for performance outcomes" staying on top of the clinical and business aspects of wound care becomes critical.  APWCA is your one stop for vital comprehensive education in both of these areas and for needed advocacy so providers have a voice and communication with the insurance industry and regulatory agencies. Join today!!!   Membership fees: $195 Physicians (MD, DO, DPM); $135 Non-Physicians (RN, NP, PT etc) and  $200 Industry Members (Company and Industry Representatives gain all the benefits above and more)

  Online Membership To JOIN --Sign-Up Today! http://www.apwca.org/signup