The lymphatic system drives or complicates a skilled course chiefly through lymphedema and its infection risk. Lymphedema after cancer treatment or node dissection requires skilled measurement, compression therapy, and skin care, and a lymphedematous limb is at high risk for cellulitis, which can progress to sepsis. Post-lymph-node-dissection care also requires skilled surveillance. The skilled work is the limb assessment and measurement, the compression and skin care, and the early recognition of infection.
This module proves, on the days it applies, that skilled lymphatic/limb care and observation was reasonable, necessary, and part of the daily skilled need under Pub. 100-02 Chapter 8. The lymphatic assessment is the same as in home care; the coverage spine is re-pointed. Vascular/edema overlap routes to Peripheral Vascular; skin breakdown to Skin; sepsis to the Sepsis overlay.
