Alicia Jenkins, BS, RN, CWCN, VP of Clinical Operations and Partnership Success
At this year’s Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), I was honored to present Corstrata’s poster “Symptom Management in Hospice and Palliative Wound Care.” A common frustration echoed through conversations with physicians, advanced practice nurses, and hospice nurses: wound care is a significant challenge in hospice and palliative settings.
These providers are experts in managing pain and guiding patients and families through end-of-life care, but when it comes to complex wounds, they often feel unprepared and unsupported. Many shared that they’re expected to manage wounds, fistulas, and ostomies—yet they wouldn’t be expected to be respiratory or physical therapists. So why is wound care any different?
The Wound Care Competency Gap
Despite the critical role wound care plays in patient comfort and dignity, most healthcare providers aren’t given the education or resources to manage it effectively. Here’s why:
Minimal Education & Training – Medical and nurse practitioner programs barely scratch the surface when it comes to wound care, leaving providers without the foundational knowledge they need.
Complex Wounds in Hospice – Pressure injuries, fungating tumors, fistulas… these aren’t simple cases. They require specialized expertise that most hospice teams just don’t have.
Lack of Access to Specialists – Many providers, especially in rural and home-based settings, have no wound care expert to turn to. Instead, they’re left making treatment decisions through trial and error, which can increase legal risk for both the provider and the organization.
When Wounds Affect More Than Just the Patient
Wound care isn’t just about medical management—it’s about preserving dignity, comfort, and human connection.
I’ve seen heartbreaking cases where families stopped visiting because a loved one’s wound odor became too overwhelming. Other patients endured unnecessary pain during dressing changes—pain that could have been avoided with the right approach. These moments matter.
A Virtual Solution That Changes Everything
Hospice and palliative teams don’t have to manage complex wounds alone. At Corstrata, we provide immediate virtual access to board-certified wound specialists who:
Assess wounds and address the patient's goals of care
Offer evidence-based guidance on pain, odor, bleeding, and other symptom management
Support providers, clinicians, and caregivers in real-time
Align treatment with patient goals of comfort and dignity
It's Time to Change the Standard of Care
The message from AAHPM is clear: hospice and palliative teams need support, not more complexity. With virtual wound consults, providers can feel confident in their decisions—knowing they’re delivering the highest level of care without added burden.
Let’s Make a Difference—Together. Wound care should never stand in the way of a patient’s comfort or dignity. Let’s change that.
Contact Corstrata today to explore how our virtual wound expertise can strengthen your team and improve patient outcomes.
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