Home health wound care for chronic and surgical wounds
Home health wound care provides Medicare-covered registered nurse visits for the assessment, cleaning, debridement, and dressing of complex wounds — including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries (bedsores), post-surgical wounds, and venous and arterial leg ulcers. Kassy Health wound care nurses coordinate with the patient's physician or wound care specialist to prevent the infections and hospitalizations that poorly managed wounds cause.
Common wound types treated by Kassy Health nurses
Kassy Health provides skilled nursing wound care for a broad range of acute and chronic wound conditions across Central Florida.
| Wound Type | What It Is | Our Role |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetic Foot Ulcers | Open sores caused by diabetic neuropathy and poor circulation, typically on the plantar surface of the foot | Assessment, cleaning, dressing changes, offloading education, blood glucose monitoring coordination, physician reporting |
| Surgical Wounds | Incisions from surgery, including dehiscence (reopened wounds) and wounds with drains or packing | Wound monitoring, drain care, staple and suture removal per physician orders, infection detection and escalation |
| Pressure Injuries (Bedsores) | Stage I–IV pressure injuries in immobile or bed-bound patients, most commonly over bony prominences | Wound assessment and staging, dressing changes, repositioning education, support surface recommendations |
| Venous Leg Ulcers | Chronic lower leg wounds caused by venous insufficiency and chronic venous hypertension | Wound care, compression therapy education, ambulation encouragement, vascular care coordination |
| Arterial Ulcers | Wounds from poor arterial blood flow to the lower extremities, often painful and slow to heal | Wound care within physician-ordered parameters, peripheral vascular referral coordination, pain and positioning support |
What a wound care nurse does at your home
Each skilled nursing wound care visit follows a systematic process designed to detect changes, prevent infection, and support healing. Here is what happens during a standard visit.
- Assessment: The nurse evaluates the wound bed, periwound skin, drainage amount and character, odor, and measures wound dimensions. Vital signs and systemic signs of infection are assessed.
- Cleaning: The wound is cleaned per physician-ordered wound care protocol using appropriate irrigants and technique.
- Debridement: If ordered, non-viable tissue is removed to promote healing and reduce infection risk.
- Dressing application: A new dressing is applied per orders, selected for the wound type, exudate level, and healing stage.
- Education: The patient and caregiver are instructed on wound monitoring, dressing changes for between-visit care, and warning signs to report.
- Documentation and physician communication: Every visit is documented and the physician is notified of significant changes. The care plan is updated when wound status changes.
Photographic wound tracking. Kassy Health nurses photograph wounds at each visit and maintain a documented progression record — giving the physician real, objective data to guide treatment decisions and identify when a specialist referral is warranted.
When to call 911 or the care team about a wound
Between nursing visits, knowing what to watch for can prevent a wound complication from becoming a life-threatening emergency. Educate every caregiver on these signs.
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Sudden increase in drainage
A sudden increase in wound drainage, especially if it is purulent (thick and yellow or green) or has a foul odor, is a sign of active infection. Contact the care team immediately — do not wait for the next scheduled visit.
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Rapidly spreading redness
Redness that is expanding outward from the wound edges is a sign of cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that requires prompt treatment. Call the care team. If the redness is spreading quickly and the patient has a fever, go to the emergency room.
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Fever above 101°F with a wound present
Fever is a systemic sign that the body may be fighting a wound-related infection. Report any fever above 101°F to the care team immediately — or follow the physician's specific temperature threshold if provided.
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Wound edges turning black or dark
Black or very dark discoloration around the wound or wound edges can indicate tissue necrosis (tissue death). This requires urgent medical evaluation. Call the care team or go to the emergency room.
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Red streaks spreading from the wound
Red streaks radiating outward from the wound are a sign of lymphangitis — infection spreading through the lymphatic system. This is a medical emergency. Call 911.
Does Medicare cover home health wound care?
Medicare covers home health wound care when the patient meets the following criteria:
- The patient is homebound — leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort. Many wound care patients qualify due to mobility limitations or wound precautions.
- The patient requires skilled nursing for wound assessment and care — this is the standard for wound care and is nearly always met.
- A physician orders and certifies the wound care plan.
Wound care supplies used during the skilled nursing visit are covered under Part A. Durable medical equipment such as specialty pressure-relief mattresses and compression stockings may require separate Part B coverage with a physician order. Our intake team helps families understand what is covered before care begins.
How Medicare home health works
Wound care supplies included. Dressings, gauze, irrigation supplies, and other materials used during skilled nursing wound care visits are covered under the Medicare home health benefit — there is no separate charge for supplies applied during the visit.
Home health wound care — frequently asked questions
Yes. Medicare Part A covers wound care supplies — including dressings, gauze, and other materials — used by the nurse during a skilled nursing visit under the home health benefit. Supplies for the patient or caregiver to use between visits are not covered under Part A, but may be covered under Part B with a separate physician order depending on the item. Our intake team can help clarify coverage specifics before care begins.
Visit frequency depends on the wound type, physician wound care orders, and wound complexity. Dressing changes for complex wounds typically occur two to three times per week. Some wounds require daily nursing visits; others can be managed with less frequent visits supplemented by caregiver-performed changes between visits. The physician's orders and ongoing clinical assessment determine the schedule, which can be adjusted as the wound progresses.
Yes, and this is a standard part of home health wound care. Kassy Health nurses provide hands-on education to family members and caregivers for dressing changes and wound monitoring between skilled nursing visits. Caregiver teaching is a documented goal of the plan of care, ensuring the wound is managed safely during the days when the nurse is not present.
A wound care nurse (RN) provides skilled nursing wound care at home under physician orders — assessment, cleaning, debridement, and dressing changes. A wound care specialist (often a Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse, or WOCN, or a physician specializing in wound care) provides advanced diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning for complex or non-healing wounds, typically in a clinic or hospital setting. Kassy Health wound care nurses work under physician orders and coordinate directly with wound care specialists when the physician refers a patient for more advanced wound management.