Healed Surgical Sites are not Wounds
Question: One of our residents recently returned from an operation and has a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line. I’m a little confused about whether this qualifies as a surgical wound for item M1200F (Skin conditions, surgical wound), especially because the resident is recovering from surgery. Arizona Subscriber Answer: Though the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual defines a surgical wound as “any healing and non-healing, open or closed surgical incisions, skin grafts or drainage sites,” it specifically notes, on page M-30, that a PICC line, along with central line sites and peripheral intravenous (IV) sites, should not be considered a surgical wound. However, the PICC line requires special attention and your interdisciplinary team (IDT) and staff should care plan accordingly.
