Kara Couch, MS, CRNP, CWCN-AP, FAAWC

Vice-chair

• Nurse Practitioner
• Director, Wound Care Services, George Washington Univ. Hospital

Ms. Couch graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing (FNP) from Georgetown University in 2002.  Currently, she works as the Director of Wound Care Services at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC.    She is an Associate Research Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at George Washington University.  Her wound care interests include caring for persons with limb loss/limb differences, complex abdominal wounds and use of technology in wound healing.

Ms.  Couch is the current Vice-Chair of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders and the President of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC).  Kara is a Fellow of the Association of the Advancement of Wound Care. Kara is the co-chair of the Wound Care Community for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  She is a member of the Prophylactic Dressing Standards Initiative, a joint collaboration between the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.  Kara also serves on the Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee of the Amputee Coalition.  She is an editorial board member of Wound Management and Prevention, Today’s Wound Clinic, Wound Masterclass and WoundSource 2023.   She has authored or co-authored over 30 papers in peer-reviewed publications and lectures nationally and internationally on wound care topics.

Why I'm Involved

I first learned about the Alliance from a colleague and mentor, Dr. John Steinberg in 2012.  As one progresses in the wound care field, the impact of legislative and regulatory decisions becomes a huge burden on day to day ability to treat patients effectively.  I joined the Alliance as the liaison with the American Association for Nurse Practitioners (AANP).  Key legislative goals of the AANP, including the ability of nurse practitioners to order diabetic shoe-wear and to certify home health orders, align with collaborating organizations within the Alliance.

After participating in several CMS public meetings and assisting with crafting comments in response to legislative proposals, it is quite clear to me that there is immense value in speaking with one voice.  The Alliance succeeds in integrating the goals of interdisciplinary groups with the ultimate goal to improve access to treatment, medical devices and provide evidence-based wound care.

I have been dismayed that many first drafts of local coverage determinations do not reflect current evidence in wound care.  The Alliance works extremely diligently to provide thoughtful, patient-centered commentary that is supported by the highest levels of evidence in wound care.  With the ever-shifting coverage landscape, I am proud to be a board member of the Alliance and to know that we are positively impacting wound care policy to help our patients.