Dermatology Nurses' Association

Dermatology Nursing News Briefs

Scratching the Itch: Behavior Modification Can Reduce the Urge
Habit reversal therapy can be an effective treatment to help patients with eczema and other skin conditions deal with the urge to scratch. In the June 2007 issue of Dermatology Nursing, Marianne Grillo, Randall Long, and Dorota Long recommend the therapy for patients to improve their quality of life and allow the skin to heal.

While managing chronic itching caused by disease requires medical intervention, the authors note that scratching calls for a psychological approach. In the habit reversal method, patients are first educated about the itch-scratch cycle and then taught alternative behaviors to scratching such as exercising their hands.

The authors say their clinical experience shows it is possible to diminish the scratch habit with reversal therapy, but said follow-up may be necessary to evaluate effectiveness long-term. This is where an interested professional comes in, they say, as motivation and guidance are keys to success. (Habit Reversal Training for the Itch-Scratch Cycle Associated with Pruritic Skin Conditions; Marianne Grillo, RN, MNg, Randall Long, BMBS, FRANZCP, and Dorota Long, BMBS, June 2007, www.dermatologynursing.net)

Body Piercings Contribute to Upswing in Nickel Allergies

The popularity of body piercing has caused the incidence of nickel allergies to rise significantly in the United States. In the June 2007 Issue of Dermatology Nursing, Sandra D. Copeland, Susan deBey, and Deon Hutchison, stress the importance of patient and health care provider education to the symptoms and dangers of nickel allergies.

While the incidence of the allergy was about 10% in the 1980s, it is now estimated as high as 20% in women and 4% in men, according to statistics researched by the authors. The most common symptom of nickel allergy is contact dermatitis, presenting in patients as itching, redness, and blisters. The danger is particularly acute for patients who may need implanted surgical devices. To keep patients safe, the authors suggest nickel allergy testing and a thorough health history. Treatment includes removing any traces of nickel from the body, thorough cleansing and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.  Nurses play a key role through the treatment process and in pre- and post-operative assessments. (Nickel Allergies: Implications for Practice; Sandra D. Copeland, MSN, RN, BC, Susan deBey, BSN, RN, and Deon Hutchison, MSN, RN, BC, June 2007, www.dermatologynursing.net)

Tips for Getting Quick and Accurate Reimbursement

Health care providers often face frustrating delays in getting reimbursed for services, however there are some ways to speed the process. In the June 2007 Issue of Dermatology Nursing, Lisa L. Spoden, Executive Director, Association of Dermatology Administrators/Managers and a former Medicare Fair Hearing officer, outlines effective strategies to improve the chance of a fair, accurate and timely reimbursement:

• Don't use outdated materials
• Don't use truncated diagnosis codes
• Identify patients correctly
• Use modifiers properly
• Use the right site-of-service code
• Don't omit referring physicians name and NPI #

Spoden also presents 11 items that every dermatology office's coding and compliance library should contain to help staff avoid mistakes. (Ensuring Timely Reimbursement; Lisa L. Spoden, PhD, MS, BA, June 2007, www.dermatologynursing.net)

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Members of the media: Feel free to use these news briefs as filler in your publications. For more information, or if you would like to interview one of the authors, contact Linda Alexander at linda@ajj.com or 856-256-2300, ext. 2411.

Dermatology Nursing is the official journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA). The journal is nursing's premier skin care resource and contains state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed articles on all aspects of skin and wound care.