Non-Healable Wounds and Palliative Wound Care: Conversations Are Key

How often do you consider the surprise question when caring for patients with chronic, progressive diseases? The surprise question, “Would you be surprised if this person died in the next 12 months?” offers a quick, easy tool to timely identify patients who would benefit from advance care planning. If a clinician would not be surprised, then steps should be taken to discuss prognosis and goals of care with the patient. Any clinician caring for wounds should also consider this question when caring for individuals with chronic disease to help guide conversations regarding whether a wound is healable or not.