THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WOCN® SOCIETY
ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
At the WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference Page 10
Tips for First-Time Attendees
Page 14
Perspectives from Canada
Page 18
www.wocn.org
The New Way to Select a
Support Surface An evidence- and consensus-based support surface selection algorithm Developed by leading researchers and clinicians Access on phones, tablets and desktop computers No downloads required Access the support surface algorithm at algorithm.wocn.org.
Funded in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Hill-Rom.
ISSUE 5 • SPRING 2015
TA B L E O F CONTENTS THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WOCN® SOCIETY
FEATURES
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L EAVE Y O U R M AR K AT T HE WOC N S O C I E T Y ’ S 4 7 TH AN N U AL C O N FE RE NCE
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QU IC K T I P S FO R F I R S T-T I ME ATTEN D E E S
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TH E M E M B E RS - O NLY F OR UMS: H AVE Y O U P O S T E D T ODAY ?
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President’s Letter
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Region & Affiliate News
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Ask a WOC Nurse
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WOCN Society Foundation Awards Scholarships
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Perspectives: Putting Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing in Canada into Perspective
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Public Policy
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Corporate Member Updates
mission The WOCN Society is a professional nursing society which supports its members by promoting educational, clinical and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. Executive Vice President Nicolette Zuecca, MPA, CAE nzuecca@wocn.org In It For You is a publication of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) 888-224-WOCN www.wocn.org www.wocn.org/foundation Publication Date: Spring 2015
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WOCN SOCIETY BOARD AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS BOARD Phyllis Kupsick, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN President 2013-2015 Albemarle, NC phylliskupsick@gmail.com Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON, CBPN-IC President-Elect 2013-2015 Nashville, TN carolyn.watts@vanderbilt.edu Dea Kent, MSN, RN, NP-C, CWOCN Secretary 2014-2016 Sharpsville, IN deajkent@aol.com Sandy Hughes, BSN, RN, CWOCN Treasurer 2014-2016 Needham, MA shughes787@hotmail.com
Shawneen Schmitt, MSN, MS, RN, CWOCN, CFCN, FACCWS Director-at-Large Area #2 2014-2016 Waukesha, WI smsmsnrn@gmail.com
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dianne L. Feeser, MS, RN, GCNS-BC, CWOCN Director-at-Large Area #3 2013-2015 Troy, PA John_dianne@frontier.com
A View of the Society: From the President’s Position
Mary Arnold Long, MSN, RN, CRRN, CWOCN-AP, ACNS-BC Director-at-Large Area #4 2014-2016 Charleston, SC mary.arnoldlong@rsfh.com
Barbara List, BSN, RN, CWOCN Director-at-Large Area #1 2013-2015 Albuquerque, NM blist@phs.org
PHYLLIS KUPSICK, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWOCN
C O M M IT T EE CHA IR S Accreditation Committee Jody Scardillo, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, CWOCN Slingerlands, NY s4392521@capital.net Audit Committee Sandy Hughes, BSN, RN, CWOCN Needham, MA shughes787@hotmail.com Development Committee Laurie L. McNichol, MSN, RN, GNP, CWOCN Greensboro, NC mcnichol@triad.rr.com Education Committee Jill Cox, PhD, RN, APN-C, CWOCN River Vale, NJ glcgrc@yahoo.com
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National Conference Planning Committee Joy Pittman, PhD, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, CWOCN Noblesville, IN joyce.pittman@comcast.net National Public Policy Committee Rosemary Kates, MSN, APN, CWOCN Cherry Hill, NJ rosemakat@comcast.net Nominating Committee Benjamin Peirce, BA, RN, CWOCN Plantation, FL benpeirce@att.net Wound Treatment Associate Committee Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN, FAAN Stone Mountain, GA ddought@emory.edu
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wo years can seem like a long time when you are viewing it from the starting point as the new President. But, I can assure you, the perception is much different as the end point is in sight. The past 20 months have passed rapidly and I find it hard to believe that my term is nearing its closure. With that in mind, I would like to share with you several of the things that have made time fly for me. One of our most significant changes, during my time as President, has been in the restructuring of how we carry out our clinical work with best practice documents and guidelines. As you may remember, in 2014 we dissolved all of our clinical and professional practice committees. With the ever increasing demands at our worksites to do more with less, it felt like we may be losing out on excellent volunteers who might hesitate to commit to a two-year term on a committee. But they might not hesitate to work on a temporary task force with a defined subject to be completed in defined timeframe. This is a trend seen in many organizations today. Staff and Committee Chairs worked diligently to finalize projects already
One of our most significant changes, during my time as President, has been in the restructuring of how we carry out our clinical work with best practice documents and guidelines. in process before the committees were dissolved. Since initiating the change, we have developed numerous task forces for well-defined projects. Chairs and members of the task forces were chosen for their specific knowledge and skills related to the projects and the task force work has progressed as anticipated. We will be sharing the results of most of the completed work at our conference in June. We have numerous task forces either in the initial stages of development or awaiting selection of Chairs and members in order to begin their work. For instance, we have six clinical practice documents that are in need of review and revision. Any interested parties, let us know. In addition to handling the review and revision of our important clinical
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documents, the task force mode allows us to be more nimble when we are approached with a new project that will benefit our members and the patients they serve. It allows us to utilize some of our seasoned members, along with some of our newer members, giving more depth to the projects from different perspectives. One of our concerns with dissolving committees was the loss of an opportunity to mentor our future replacements. But, it is our hope that positive experiences with the task force model will improve the
likelihood of interest in a more active role within the Society. If you’d like to work with one of our task forces, remember that the volunteer form (www.wocn.org/ volunteerform) is available all year long. We’d love to hear from each of you! Also, over the past 20 months, we have seen an increase in the activities of our Public Policy and Advocacy team. With their guidance, the Society has weighed in on numerous topics that effect the WOC nurse practice. These issues are kept in front of our members eyes via our
Advocacy tab (www.wocn.org/advocacy) on our website. It is vital that all WOC nurses become politically astute and add their voices when asked to “speak out” for issues effecting practice and patient care. Only by taking a stand can we hope to effect change. There have been many more learning opportunities for me, but we’ll talk about some of those at conference. As our conference theme indicates, we all leave our mark.
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REGION & AFFILIATE NEWS
News from the WOC World NORTH CENTRAL REGION (NCR) Our regional fall conference was held Sept.19-20, 2014, in Rochester, Minnesota, at the Marriott Hotel Mayo Clinic Area. It was a great success with over 100 attendees. We are discussing having a more centralized conference location to maximize conference attendance. Midge Willson, a long-time NCR Board member and national chairperson has retired. The NCR continues to support and encourage scholarship applicants. Nicole Jenkins, Jessica Held, Erica Lehner, Wilanda Thomas and Aaron Wodosh were awarded NCR Scholarships for Wound, Ostomy & Continence Education at webWOC; Alanna Sepplet and Julie Freyberg were awarded Advanced Practice Scholarships. Jeanne Stadler from Wisconsin was the 2014 NCR Excellence Award recipient. Kathy Otten was chosen as Nurse of the Year at the VA in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Sioux Falls VA supports nurse certification, and has added eight certified foot-care nurses with three more pending, to increase education in foot and nail care with expected goals in preventing limb amputations. Sanford Health Hospital, Avera McKennan Hospital and the VA Hospital WOC nurses are working together to get an ostomy support group started. Cindy Davis is taking the lead with the group. Shawneen Schmitt was elected to a Director position at the national WOCN Society.
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NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD POSITIONS: President: Kathy Demmer President-Elect: Cathy Wiebers SD Rep: Kathy Otten ND Rep: Emily Greenstein WI Rep: Sonya Brickman Public Policy: Barb Provo
NORTHEAST REGION (NER) The 2015 NER WOCN Society Fall Conference, Sailing the Waves of Quality Care, will be held Oct. 2-4, 2015, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. Hotel accommodations will be available at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, visit www.ner-wocn.org for more information. The convention center and hotel are located on the shores of Lake Erie. The Erie airport accommodates direct flights via Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit. Automobile access is easy via Interstate travel and the Bayfront Parkway. The conference will welcome national and local speakers on a vast number of topics from novice to advanced, vendor of the year award, entertainment and networking opportunities. The Erie area offers many options for visitors. There is a large indoor water park, the beautiful Presque Isle State Park, multiple wineries, shopping, boating/ fishing, comedy club, theater and many more options.
12TH ANNUAL COLON CANCER C H A L L E N G E T E A M C A P TA I N R OX A N N E E L L I N G A N D N E R W O C N P R E S I D E N T VA S H T I L I V I N G S T O N
The NER is involved in several charity events and supported the 12th Annual Colon Cancer Challenge on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at Citi Field in New York, New York. NY Metro WOCN formed a team and ask other members of the WOCN Society to support them at events. coloncancerchallenge.org. Team Captain Roxanne Elling and NER WOCN President Vashti Livingston attended the kick-off reception on Jan. 22, 2015, as the WOCN Society is listed as a Strategic Partner for the Colon Cancer Challenge, and we continue to have a visible presence with this organization. Our 2014 Fall Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, was a sweet success and we were booked to capacity. The President’s Award was given to Colin Cooke (UOAA advocate) and Heidi Cross, CWOCN for their successful lobbying efforts in New York State to pass a bill that requires insurance coverage of ostomy supplies. Check www.ner-wocn.org for updates.
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MIDEAST REGION (MER) The Fall 2015 conference is scheduled Oct. 1-3, 2015, at the Sheraton Hotel Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis, Indiana. The theme is Driving Your Practice: Crossing the Finish Line with Strong Outcomes. Organizers promise an exciting line up of speakers who will help participants prove their worth in the changing healthcare environment. Check our website www.mideastregion.org for registration information. The 2014 Fall Conference, held in Cleveland, was kicked off with a live feed to an OR during surgery for the creation of a loop ileostomy. There were many other great presentations on such topics as diabetic foot ulcers, IBS pharmacology, pelvic floor issues and advancing WOC practice. During the business meeting, money was allocated to digitally preserve the items that have been saved over the many years of MER history. A committee is being formed to archive these items. Members wish to recognize and thank outgoing President Kelly Jaszarowski, Secretary Judy Mosier, Trustee Kate Zimnicki and Trustee Michelle Beck for their many hours of devoted service to the region.
WE WELCOME NEW OFFICERS: President: Lisa Kirk President-Elect: Monica Koch Secretary: Mike Criswell Trustee: Joan Van Heck Trustee: Michelle Beck
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECIPIENTS OF THE FOLLOWING AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS: Jeff Bish WOC Nursing Scholarship: Timothy A. Luttrell MER Manufacturer’s Representative: Ryan Kenny of Mölnlycke Healthcare MER Nurse Researcher Award: Joyce Pittman MER Shining Star of the Year: Monica Davis
R E G I O N S A N D A F F I L I AT E S A R E O R G A N I Z E D T H R O U G H O U T T H E C O U N T R Y SO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY CAN SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE, CONCERNS AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
MER Advanced Practice Scholarship: Rachel Hinshaw and Deborah Kleissler MER WOC Nurse of the Year: Katherine (Kate) Zimnicki
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AFFILIATE We have a dedicated group of WOC nurses who gather five times a year to learn from industry representatives, presenting innovative products which are available for treatment of wounds (acute and chronic). We have also begun to celebrate our strengths from within. In November, our group gathered to hear Gail Erickson, who presented for her first time at the WOCN Society’s 46th Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. She shared her story of establishing Kenny’s Kloset. The idea was born from the need to have ostomy supplies for people who are unable to meet their ostomy needs. Gail’s passion for her life’s work is evident through the poster presentation as well as the presentation which she shared. Our goals for the 2015 year of Central Virginia Affiliate are to focus on our educational needs within the specialty. This will be accomplished by reading and sharing journal articles, thereby bringing new research and ideas to the members and providing a time of discussion and learning. We also are planning to invite a guest
speaker representative from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to speak to our group. We continue to advance the profession, as several members who have been working toward certification in wound and ostomy care have successfully become certified. Other members have completed or are completing educational goals of master’s degrees and PhDs. We look forward to the coming year.
HAMPTON ROADS AFFILIATE UPDATES TO LEADERSHIP
Eva Sauls, BSN, RN, CWOCN, was elected as our new treasurer January 2015, replacing outgoing treasurer, Lisa Radford, who gave us four years of dedicated service. The Affiliate is going to dedicate two of our meetings to peer education and sharing. Our first event will be held at one of our local outpatient wound centers. The goal is to discuss wound care products through the continuum of care, addressing topics such as efficacy, cost containment and positive healing outcomes.
POSTERS AND PUBLICATIONS Margarita Simón, APRN-BC, CWCN, presented her poster, “Use of Active Leptospermum Honey to Promote Autolytic Debridement and Wound Healing in Challenging Chronic Wounds,” at SAWC, WOCN Society’s 46th Annual
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Conference in Nashville and the MidAtlantic Region 2014 Conference. Cindy Miller, BSN, RN, CWOCN published “Pearls for Practice: Significant Cost Savings Realized by Changing Debridement Protocol” in the OWM in September 2014.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Joanne Skinner, BSN, RN, CWCN, received the March of Dimes 2014 Virginia Nurse of the Year in Geriatric/Long Term Care. Marilu Dixon, MSN, RN, CWOCN, volunteered for a second term (20142016) on the national WOCN Education Committee.
RECENT EVENTS
In recognition of Pressure Ulcer Prevention for the NPUAP National Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day (Nov. 20), the Riverside WOC nurses set up information tables at their facilities (Acute Care, LTACH, HH and Long-Term Care).
CERTIFICATIONS
Cindy Dowd, MSNEd, RN, OCN, CWOCN, was recertified by PGP. Ferne Elsass, MSN, RN, CPN, CWCN, passed wound certification. She was also awarded a WOCN scholarship in 2014. Dee Council, BSN, RN, CWON, passed ostomy certification.
PACIFIC COAST (PCR) UPCOMING EVENTS
Happy New Year from sunny Southern California. The PCR hosted our annual Regional Conference Feb. 12-14, 2015, at the happiest place on earth – that’s right, Disneyland in Anaheim, California! The Conference Planning Committee worked hard to put together an outstanding conference agenda with some well-known speakers. Visit www.pcr.org for more information.
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NEW OFFICERS
PCR had elections in September 2014 for new board officers. We would like to welcome and congratulate our newest officers. President: Donna Rositani, BSN, RN, CWOCN Vice President: Susan Foster, BSN, RN, PHN, CWOCN Education Chair: Charleen Deo, MSN/Ed, RN, FNP, CWOCN Secretary: Daphne Weiland, BSN, RN, CWOCN Communications Chair: Monica Chen, BSN, RN, CWOCN Nominating Committee: Deborah Zaricor, MSN, RN, CWOCN
NOMINATIONS
Applications are now being accepted for the Gene Galindo memorial award and the Youth Rally Counselor Scholarship. PCR WOC scholarship provides up to $1,500 per person to support RNs pursuing WOC education. The Gene Galindo award provides $400 per person to an ostomycertified RN to support projects that will enhance the quality of life of an ostomate. Youth Rally sponsorship provides the registration fee for an RN counselor at the Youth Rally. Visit www.pcr.org for more details and a copy of the application.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION (SRC) The SCR held its annual transition meeting Jan. 24, 2015 with 100 percent attendance.
THE SCR WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE NEW BOARD MEMBERS/DIRECTORS:
Treasurer: Kristy Staebel Director-Communication: Vicky Turner Director-Public Relations: Rebecca Zamora We wish a gracious farewell to Jean Cefalu (Treasurer), Kathy Murphy (Director-Communications) and Catherine Short (Director-Public Relations). We thank them for their hard work, experience and commitment to the SCR. We know
they will continue to offer the SCR their support and expertise.
SCR NEWS
SCR’s Catherine Short from Houston Methodist WOC nursing department hosted World Wide Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day Nov. 20, 2014. The SCR Secretary Jill Conwill, retired from her job this month. She has been a WOC nurse for 32 years (Go Jill!). She continues as an active board member. Cindy Barefield, BSN, RN-BC, CWOCN, recently completed a research study entitled “Prevention and Staging of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Nurses’ Knowledge in the Community Hospital Setting.” Cindy is now in a semiretired status. We want SCR members to contribute their accomplishments and news to our website. Goals for the SCR are to increase our interactive ability with our membership for 2015. Go to www.scrwocn. org for updates on our SCR fall conference and all other SCR news.
NORTHWEST (NW) REGION The NW Region of the WOCN Society conducted a well-attended annual conference September 2014, in Seattle, Washington. Leadership transitions were announced during the business meeting, with Cathie Potts installed as President; Mary Nametka, Secretary; Sue Wilson, Nominations Chair; Caryn Goolsby, Bylaws Chair; and Mary Jackson, Conference and Public Policy/Membership Chair. Elections for 2015 President-Elect and Treasurer will be held in the spring. We are off to a vigorous start with a new Facebook page (thanks to our webmaster Lauri Bailey!) displaying Great Comebacks honorees and other photos of the conference. Another highlight of the conference was recognition of the NW Region 2014 Outstanding WOC Nurse of the year, which was awarded to Deb Christiansen. Deb is the manager of a large WOC nursing department at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center located in Eugene, Oregon. Deb has developed a strong inpatient
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program as well as a busy outpatient clinic to meet the wound and ostomy needs of those living in the southern Willamette Valley of Oregon. The NW Region WOCN 2015 Annual Conference will be held in Eugene, Oregon, Oct. 15-17, 2015 at the Valley River Inn. More information can be found at www. nwregionwocn.org.
WESTERN PA AFFILIATE The Western PA NERWOCN affiliate meets five times each year. March, July and November are vendor-sponsored and provide education on current practices. The vendor fair is in May. Competencies and elections of new board members are Sept. 17, 2015. The Western PA Affiliate is hosting the 2015 NER Conference Oct. 2-4, 2015, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. The theme is Sailing the Waves of Quality Care.
THE MEETINGS FOR 2015 ARE:
March 19, 2015: Medline—Forbes Regional May 21, 2015: Meeting/Vendor Fair— Gateway Banquet Hall July 16, 2015: Derma Sciences—Forbes Regional Sept. 17, 2015: Competencies and Elections for Affiliate Secretary and Treasurer for 2016-2017—Forbes Regional Nov. 19, 2015: National Rehab—Forbes Regional
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS President: Sandra Lee Hartman President-Elect: Deb Brewer Secretary: Tammy R. Steighner Treasurer: Linda Rahuba Trustees: 2015-2016—Elaine Stewart
MID-ATLANTIC REGION (MAR)
NEW ENGLAND REGION
Please join me in congratulating Cece Rund, who was selected MAR 2014 WOC Nurse of the Year. Eva Sauls and Mary Ellen Gannon were also nominated for MAR 2014 WOC Nurse of the Year. All three candidates were well deserving of the award.
The New England Region of the WOCN Society, held its 38th Annual Symposium, in October 2014 at the Double Tree in Danvers, Massachusetts. The 39th Annual Conference will be Nov. 6-7, 2015 in Newport, Rhode Island, at the Newport Marriott. The New England Region 2014 WOC Nurse of the Year was presented to Betty Brady, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN. Betty is employed at the VNA of Cape Cod, Inc. in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Her fellow employees describe her as an innovative, caring person who goes beyond the call of duty. Congratulations Betty! The New England Region also presented $1,000 scholarships to Irene Beaman, a WOC nurse student attending the Harrisburg Area Wound Care Specialty Program and WOC Nursing Education Program - Sponsored by Wicks Educational Associates, Inc., and Ann Marie Feinstein, who is attending the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education Center for WOC nursing. Congratulations and good luck to both! This year the New England Region is offering the Janet Gillis Scholarship. Janet always wanted the “kids” to be able to go to camp and was always there to help raise money so the “kids” could go to camp. The Janet Gillis Scholarship was created to honor her memory. This scholarship is for a WOC nurse who would like to be a counselor at the UOA Youth Rally Camp, and is open to members of the New England WOC nurses region. Please see our website for further information. If members would like information about any of our 2015 scholarships, please visit www.newenglandwocn.org. Also, “Like” us on Facebook to stay up to date on our region. The New England Region is also looking for applicants for Treasurer and PresidentElect. If interested please contact a board member.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING NEW MAR OFFICERS:
President: Ann Stone President Elect: Lisa Owens Secretary: Jane Fellows Member-at-Large for Communications: Rhonda Holbrook Kudos to Joan Selekof for her guidance as president for the past four years. It’s been a journey of communication and collaboration. A heartfelt thank you to Sue Grafton. For the past four years, Sue has served as Secretary and Chairperson of the WOC Nurse of the Year Award. We all truly appreciate her commitment to the MAR.
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO GO TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS: President Central Virginia Affiliate: Sue Creehan President Hampton Roads Affiliate: Kathy Merkh
Dot Goodman and Ann Williams, our Conference Co-chairs, are actively planning the 2015 MAR fall conference, which will take place at The Westin Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Oct. 16-17, 2015. For more information, please visit www. marwocn.org.
Please note, in the fall edition of In It For You, the MidAtlantic Region update was accidentally combined with the Hampton Roads Affiliate.
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NORTHERN ILLINOIS AFFILIATE 2015 BOARD ANNOUNCED President: Christine Baker President Elect: Nancy Olsen Secretary: Jean Edie Treasurer: Kathy O’Toole Board Members: Kathy Hurley Alison Reed Betty Villiers
SPRING COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Cruising the Road to Quality will be held Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Go to www. niawocn.org for more information and registration.
AUGUST AFFILIATE MEETING Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, 6 pm-8:30 pm at St. Joseph: Resurrection Health Care, 2900 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois. Marlene Balik will host. Details to follow on our website.
hard to keep our costs down and be sure that we were fed and well cared for at the Hershey Lodge.
NEWS
At our affiliate meeting in January, we set up plans for 2015 meetings and education. We hope to resume CEU offerings at each meeting. Tuesday, March 10, 2015: 3M to present a session about tape usage during a lunch n’ learn. Tuesday, June 16, 2015: Liberty Medical will present Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015: Molnlycke by Kristen Jenton. Topic TBA. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015: Dermasciences. Topic TBA. We also held elections at the January meeting and now welcome new Treasurer Linda O’Brien and President-Elect Leslie Wilson.
IOWA AFFILIATE SOUTH CENTRAL PA The members of this affiliate wish to express appreciation to the attendees of our NER WOCN conference. We had a sold-out crowd for our November event, Sweet Success in WOC Nursing, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In addition, we had the support of over 50 vendors on site. The weekend provided us a great array of conference offerings to fulfill our educational and professional needs, as well as some great networking time. Many of our affiliate members volunteered to serve in a multitude of roles for conference, and the positive feedback and great outcome made us all proud. Special thanks are extended to Nancy Fike and Lynn DeMartyn, our Conference Co-chairs. They provided marvelous leadership, and Nancy worked especially
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The Iowa Affiliate welcomed Zoe Bishop as Secretary and Tami Hoyt as Treasurer for 2015. Both of them have previously served in these roles and did a wonderful job. The President-Elect will be voted in this year and serve throughout 2016-2017. We will have the election before the fall conference, and the new President-Elect will be announced at fall conference. This year’s conference will be held at Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa, Sept. 10-11, 2015. The theme will be Focus on The Future: The Sky’s the Limit. We have a great line of national and local speakers. This information will be posted on our website in the next few months for registration. It is always a fun time and an opportunity to recognize our colleagues. Last year Liz Brecht received the WOC Nurse of the Year award, and JoAnn Ermer-Seltun was the recipient of the President’s Award. The recipient of the WOC Nurse of the Year award is nominated
by co-workers and peers. They must show dedication to the profession and have demonstrated leadership where they work, in their membership at the state and even national levels. It is quite an honor, so we want to congratulate Liz Brecht. The President’s Award is given by the Iowa Affiliate President to a recipient who must be an exemplary WOC nurse who goes above and beyond, inspires others to be WOC nurses, is active at the state and national level, is active in their community and so much more. It is an honor to congratulate JoAnn Ermer-Seltun.
CENTRAL NY AFFILIATE NEW OFFICERS IN JANUARY 2015 President: Cathy Van Houten, MS, RN, CWON President-Elect: Melanie Davis, RN, BC, CWCN, CCCN Treasurer: Beth Williams, BSN, RN, CWON Secretary: Kristen Jentons, BSN, RN, CWOCN
Our first meeting of 2015 was held Feb. 13. After completing affiliate business, we hosted the presentation, “Differentiating Lower Extremity Ulcers & Leg Wraps” by Melanie Davis, CWCN. We are also hosting a lunch presentation and 45-minute webinar by Barbara Braden, PhD, RN, FAAN, called Pressure Ulcer Prevention: The Ordinary and the Novel. We have incorporated time into the agenda for sharing clinical practice and challenges.
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ASK A WOC NURSE
ASK
a WOC Nurse
My CWOCN colleagues and I have been told to delay our hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) assessments until after a team of managers “discusses the issue and reaches consensus.” It is as if the CWOCNs are pitted against the managers with intimidation to change our assessments in favor of the hospital. Please advise. Thank you.
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n the challenging circumstance you describe, there are several points for consideration. As with any circumstance dealing with conflicting organizational dynamics, you always want to be sure to discuss the situation with the person to whom you directly report. If there are relational difficulties at that level and you need to move up the chain of command, you want to always inform the person to whom you directly report that you feel the need to take the situation further, and why. As you contemplate your strategy you will want to keep in mind that no healthcare worker in any organization wants someone entrusted to their care to develop any type of hospital-acquired conditions – in this case, pressure ulcers – which would cause undue harm and suffering. At the same time, no organization wants to be unfairly held responsible for the development of a skin condition that is, in fact, not pressure related. As opposed to being in an adversarial position with the team of managers, you may choose to view this situation as an opportunity for you and your colleagues to align yourselves with them in their efforts to not have patients develop pressure ulcers and to not be unjustly held responsible for something as being pressure related when it is not. In fact, your participation in the process would likely result in the reduction of skin conditions being classified as pressure ulcers, not more. You, as CWOCNs, are the perfect folks to assist your manager colleagues in differentiating between true pressure ulcers and the myriad other skin conditions such as, friction injuries, rashes, the kaleidoscope of moisture associated skin damage conditions, and others, which can mimic pressure ulcers to
the untrained eye. With the wealth of emerging knowledge that’s been published in recent years in our own Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, and other publications differentiating true pressure ulcers from various other conditions, there is now a lot of credible information available to us to help validate our assessment conclusions. You may choose to share some of these articles with your manager colleagues to support your desire to work with them so only true pressure injuries are defined as pressure ulcers. By meeting your manager colleagues and aligning yourselves with their goals, you can share your knowledge with them, which will elevate your own credibility within the organization and ultimately help more patients, not only those who are fortunate enough to be cared for by you and your CWOCN colleagues. One final point for your consideration: If you are consulted to see the patients to whom you are referring in your question, then you are bound by your facility’s own policy and procedure to complete the consultation within the timeframe defined in the policy. If this policy and procedure is not readily available to you within your nursing policy and procedures, you may find it located within medical staff services bylaws, guidelines, policy and procedures, etc., depending upon how your facility is organized. Best wishes to you as you navigate through this organizational challenge Sincerely, The WOC Nurse
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Everything will be hot in San Antonio, but what are some of the hottest topics we think will be explored? Check out some sessions that we think are especially relevant and interesting this year and add them to your schedule!
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WOUND (W504) Should You Bring Your Bowie Knife to a Biofilm Fight?: A Debridement Debate Wednesday, June 10, 9:10 am–10:10 am Going off of the major debates of biofilm therapy and abuse of the debridement code by many, this session will be a great point/counterpoint between two clinicians and may raise some interesting scope of practice discussions. What does YOUR scope of practice allow you to do in regards to maintenance debridement – or does is allow you to do anything?
ty’s e i c o S N OC at the W ence r e f n o C ual h 47t Ann o, TX i n o t n A in San S S Y, O K E PA BY BRO AGER G MAN MEETIN
e Gain all th eed tools you n ur mark to leave yo sions, s e s c i m a yn through d industry m o r f s t h insig abundant d n a s r e d a le unities t r o p p o g n th networki 7 4 ’s y t e i c CN So at the WO e, June c n e r e f n o Annual C Antonio, n a S n i 5 1 0 6-10, 2 g for some n i d a e r p e Texas. Ke esources r , s n o i t a d recommen ou get y p l e h o t s der and remin ference n o c r u o y f the most o . experience 10
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OSTOMY (O409) Norma Gill Lecture: Toward a Broader Understanding of Family-Centered Care: Parents of Adult Children Tuesday, June 9, 2:40 pm–3:40 pm Mother and adult child team, Patricia (RN) and Kimberly (former colitis/ostomy patient) Beach, share their insights and provide strategies for ostomy nurses who are caring for ill adult children and their parents.
CONTINENCE (C310) Everything is Big in Texas Part 1: Skin Care – State of the Science in Cleaners and Moisturizers Monday, June 8, 2:40 pm–3:40 pm (C314) Everything is Big in Texas Part 2: State of the Science, Skin Protectants Monday, June 8, 3:50 pm–4:50 pm WOC nurses lack the understanding regarding the key ingredients in incontinence skin care products: cleansers, moisturizers and barrier products! These back to back evidence-based presentations will increase the WOC nurse’s knowledge regarding key ingredients of incontinence skin care products thereby enhancing product selection for their patients with greater efficacy and safety.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (PP207) Navigating the HCAHPS Across the Continuum Sunday, June 7, 4:00 pm–5:00 pm WOC nurses may not realize how they can help increase their institution’s HCAHPS scores. This session will provide information about how WOC nurses’ expertise and behavior will help increase the scores and help them set an example as a leader. This session will also demonstrate how their expertise and leadership will aid in all outcomes and how they will be noticed by the C suite.
F E AT U R E
WHAT’S NEW
The WOCN Society is constantly focused on helping you leave your mark on patients, but we want you to know that you leave your mark on us as well! You spoke and we listened! To provide the most valuable experience to our Annual Conference attendees in 2015 and beyond, we have made a few improvements to our program. Here’s what’s new in 2015:
Member Spotlight Sessions: Last fall, we gave our
members the opportunity to submit session proposals through our first ever “Call for Sessions.” Many members took advantage of this new opportunity and four selected members will get the chance to share their expertise and knowledge by being a speaker at the WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference.
Earn extra credits in the Poster Hall: This year we will have select posters available for CE credit in the Poster Hall. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn extra CE credits by visiting these designated posters.
Leave Your Mark in San Antonio!
More advanced education: Our planning
committee worked hard this year to ensure that there is a great selection of education for all levels, focusing on getting more advanced practice topics woven in to our conference program.
The WOCN Learning Lounge: Be sure to stop by this new area hosted by the WOCN Society between the Poster and Exhibit Halls. This space will be available throughout the conference for some additional networking opportunities, chances for you to meet Society leaders, a place for you to get information on the Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) Program and an area for short educational presentations. We hope to give you some quick tips on some of the Society’s benefits and educational tools. Visit www.wocnconference.com/ wocn2015 for more information and a complete schedule.
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iety Soc N C for WO tion the a i n c i jo so for g to n As (CAET) n a i i n d ana apy Plan 6 in 201 he C al Ther t n ed i d e an om nc ill ne . t e s r w o e r u onf ada t yo Ente int C t forge Can o j o t r ’ in eed ou on get ou n l? D o y a t f e i t r r t see spo for a Mon Pas ply w to d p o i l a n a s gov rs av you rhap state. e k p c . or el Che new trav mation. to re t. Visit r r info spo ore m Pas r fo
B Y J OY C E P I T T M A N , P H D , A N P - B C , F N P - B C , C W O C N , W O C N N AT I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR
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e hope to see you in San Antonio this year for the WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference and a chance to celebrate and be celebrated. You influence others around you every day. Come network with your peers and share how you leave your mark on patients and your practice day in and day out. Please attend the cutting edge sessions to learn more and see how the WOCN Society helps to leave a mark on you by providing evidence-based practice education year after year. There are some new things planned this year that we are excited to share with you! Check out the “What’s New” section for more details. The new twist I am excited to point out to you is our famous Nightmares session. This year we have expanded our popular Nightmares on Ostomy Street to a General Session that will include a variety of complex conditions that many of us often encounter. Do you have a patient with a complex wound/fistula/ostomy/continence issue that has proved difficult to manage? Is it keeping you up at night? Is it giving you nightmares? Add Nightmares on Alamo Plaza to your conference agenda today and you can take part in an interactive session that will allow you to present your case to your colleagues and brainstorm solutions. Come prepared to discuss the wound, ostomy and continence situations that keep you up at night!
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Three Can’t-Miss Attractions in San Antonio The Alamo
The Alamo is located in the heart of the city, inside beautifully landscaped grounds. The 300-year-old Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) was the site of a pinnacle battle during the Texas Revolution in March 1836. Here, 189 defenders held off Mexican General Santa Anna’s 4,000 soldiers for 13 days. San Antonio de Valero was established in 1718 as the city’s first mission. The chapel, one of the most photographed facades in the nation, and the Long Barracks are all that remain of the original fort. The Long Barracks Museum and Library is located near the chapel. The museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and offers a narration on the fall of the Alamo.
The River Walk
Also known as Paseo del Rio, millions of people visit the River Walk each year to enjoy this unusual urban sanctuary that winds along the San Antonio River in central San Antonio, one story below the bustling street level. Restaurants, galleries and shops line the banks of the downtown River Walk while the north River Walk is less commercial. Enjoy a relaxing dinner at one of the numerous restaurants or cafes that line the river or spice it up by visiting one of the numerous night spots and enjoy the sounds of mariachis and other live music. Adults and children enjoy floating on river boats piloted by San Antonio’s humorous tour guides. The River Walk is the perfect place to hang out with family or sit quietly while you enjoy the sounds of a bubbling waterfall.
Tower of Americas
For the best view in San Antonio, go directly to the Tower of the Americas, which was built for the World’s Fair back in 1968. If you want to go all out, grab a bite to eat at Chart House, the fine-dining restaurant that sits atop the tower, revolving slowly, much to everyone’s delight. Make sure to take time to enjoy Hemisphere Park, which is made up of beautiful grounds, waterfalls and fountains, a children’s playground, historic buildings and is also home to the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Children’s Magik Theater.
But Wait, There’s More…
These are only a few of the myriad of things to do while you’re in San Antonio. You can check out a city ghost tour, visit the San Antonio Zoo, take a tour of the Texas Wine Trail or stop by one of the many museums. Get more information about the city and its attractions at www.visitsanantonio.com/2015WOCN.
20 MOST WANtED JUNE 8-9, 2015
This year stay hot on the trail of the most notorious companies listed on the WOCN 20 Most Wanted! Visit our featured suspects and investigate leads as you interact with our corporate supporters and gain vital information. This event will take place during Exhibit Hall hours on Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9. Pick up your blank 20 Most Wanted poster at the designated locations. Then, simply visit the booths of our most wanted exhibitors below and answer the questions. Acelity Alliqua BioMedical, Inc.* BSN Medical** Byram Healthcare Domtar Personal Care Edgepark Medical Supplies Inc.* Eloquest Healthcare Hill-Rom Hollister Incorporated** Innovacyn, Inc. Keneric Healthcare Medela, Inc. MiMedx Molnlycke Health Care Shield Healthcare SteadMed Medical, LLC Strive Medical LLC Tactile Medical The Morel Company Wolters Kluwer Health/JWOCN *Featured pick-up location **Featured drop-off location
Check out www.wocnconference.com/wocn2015 for up-to-date conference information. 12
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For many first-time attendees, the WOCN Society’s annual conference can be overwhelming. Choosing sessions to attend, which speakers to hear, special events, booths to visit in the Exhibit Hall, the list could be endless. To help guide our first time conference attendees this year, we’ve asked past firsttime attendees to answer two questions: 1. Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? 2. What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? Below are their responses. We hope that their experience and advice can help guide you during your first WOCN Society annual conference!
JANET MEYER, BSN, RN, CWOCN
CHERYL LABARRE, BSN, RN, CSN, CWCN
MICHELLE WENZEL, BSN, RN, CWON
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? It was my first conference and I loved it! The sessions were all wonderful, and the networking was fabulous.
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? As a first-time attendee it was wonderful to be in an arena surrounded by those dedicated to wound care. I feel that the conference was personally valuable to me in affirming my chosen path as a CWCN. The speakers were awesome and inspirational. They shared personal experiences and tips that I use in my own practice today.
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? The WOCN Society’s annual conference was valuable to attend because it allowed for a great opportunity to network with so many knowledgeable nurses. It was also a lot of fun!
What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? The one thing I wish I would have known – but I would have wanted to know well ahead of going there – was about the breakfast and lunch sessions offered by the vendors. Thankfully, none of the ones I wanted to attend were full, and I was able to get in. But had I been made aware of them ahead of time, I would have signed up and had a ticket.
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What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? The best piece of advice would be to register early for your preferred lectures. I wish I had known that certain lectures would have included lunch. I had a fantastic time in Nashville.
What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? There is a lot going on when at conference, so try to be as organized as possible prior to going there because there is no time to organize once you get there. Be sure to network with people. Be sure to not miss out on attending the Great Comebacks Award Ceremony. It will make you proud to say you are an ostomy nurse!
F E AT U R E
NICOLE CABLE, BSN, RN, CWOCN
KRISTIN HAZELTON-HARDY, BSN, RN, CWOCN
CONNIE F. LANDON, BSN, RN, CWOCN, WCC
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? It was inspirational to see the variety represented within our organization. There are so many dedicated professionals out there, working in a surprisingly wide range of settings, all utilizing resources in slightly different ways, approaching the ever changing challenges of health care with unwavering commitment. It’s a great group to be a part of.
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? I found the experience of attending my first WOCN Society annual conference to be not only educational but motivating. I felt so privileged to be amongst such intelligent and creative professionals who share my passion for caring for patients with WOC issues. What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? One tip I would give first-time attendees would be to make sure you save plenty of time to spend in the Exhibit Hall. It could be overwhelming as there are so many vendors each with many products to show you, however I found this was a great time to ask questions and to get hands-on experience with products I was not familiar with. Also, be sure to register for the Great Comebacks Awards – it was very moving to witness!
Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? I was thrilled to be one of the recipients of the WOCN Society Travel Scholarships last year. I found the experience of attending the WOCN Society’s annual conference to be invaluable. The quality and applicability of the sessions were excellent and I am sure I could talk for hours about what I learned and what I was able to take away for use in my healthcare setting. If I had to pick an absolute favorite thing about the WOCN Society’s annual conference, I would have to choose the people – both presenters and attendees. There were opportunities to network with WOC nurses from across the country, as well as many familiar faces from closer to home. The conference helped me understand our specialty group better and also reiterated that the WOC nurse is not out there alone. In one conference room I found someone who I thought was a venue employee changing the water bottle on a dispenser. This enterprising individual turned out to be one of the conference attendees. She was changing the bottle because she saw that it needed to be done. To me this is one analogy of WOC nurses; we see a need and we step in and fill it. We take care of what needs to be done. I also learned if we don’t know the answer there is a whole community out there as our resource. I know going to every WOCN Society annual conference will not be feasible but I plan to go as often as I can and I encourage everyone who has the opportunity to attend to go.
What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? I used the iPad conference app [MyWOCN] to track things, take notes, review slides, look up vendors and submit evaluations. I loved having all the info at my fingertips.
RACHEL BETH BREAZEALE, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? As a nurse studying to become a CWOCN, it was great to meet, listen and speak to so many other CWOCNs from across the country for the first time! It was so encouraging to hear that they were going through similar challenges and successes as my WOC nurse team! I loved the informal chats, discussions, sharing, debates, etc. between sessions and during breaks. The Q&A time after each session was also especially enlightening! What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? I was encouraged to take the certification review course and I was very glad I did. I feel it helped prepare me for my certification exams, specifically where/how to focus my studying. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t taken their certification exams yet.
PAUL HAMILTON, BSN, RN, CWON Why/how was the WOCN Society’s annual conference valuable to attend? As a new CWON, the WOCN Society’s annual conference was invaluable to my professional development. I chose seminars that were directly related to my job function and/or that I felt were weak points in my practice. All seminars that I had attended were well organized and informative. Having all vendors present was also great so that I could ask questions about existing and upcoming products that I use in the field. What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? Sign up for the First Time Attendee Networking Session. They cover lots of useful information and you can get to know some of the WOCN Society members and national office staff.
What is one tip/piece of advice you wish someone gave to you in preparation for your first annual conference? I think obtaining housing early is one of the things that I would have liked to know in preparation for my first WOCN Society annual conference. I believe being closer to other conference attendees in the evening would have enhanced the experience.
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SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Congratulations!
TO O UR SC HOL ARS HIP RE C I P I E N TS
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he WOCN Society offers a scholarship program through the WOCN Society Foundation. Twice a year, 10 scholarships are awarded to deserving individuals who are committed to working in the specialty practice of wound, ostomy or continence (WOC) nursing. Upon receiving the award, the 2014 fall scholarship recipients were asked to answer a few fundamental questions: • What does receiving the fall 2014 scholarship award mean to you? • Why do you want to be a WOC nurse? (For those new to WOC nursing.) • Why do you want to continue your education as a WOC nurse? (For advanced recipients, or those continuing their WOC nursing education.)
Anthony Gaudio, BSN, RN, BA WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU?
Receiving this scholarship will allow me to take some of the pressure of paying for the program and focus on what really matters – the learning! It’s great to have the faith of such a strong organization behind my efforts to succeed, and believing that I, too, will become a valuable asset to the future of the WOC nursing community.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
I long for the chance to have more independence and specialization in my field. I feel I will be able to be a better advocate for my patients with WOC certification, and be able to better shape hospital and political policy.
Rachel Sharkey, BSN, RN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU? Receiving this scholarship gave me more financial freedom to learn about a subject based on my experience as a nurse in an outpatient clinic in the U.S. and in an under-resourced hospital in 16
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Africa, which will help me be a better resource for my patients and colleagues.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
I want to develop my skills in WOC nursing care so that I can better serve my patients and support my colleagues in regards to the care and treatment of patients with or at risk for chronic, non-healing wounds.
Rachel Hinshaw, BSN, RN, CWOCN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU?
Receiving the fall 2014 scholarship means that I am being recognized by the WOCN Society in my endeavors to improve the future of WOC nursing, and allows me to continue working full time and caring for my family without the stress of the additional financial burden.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION AS A WOC NURSE? I enjoy the autonomy that the profession affords me. Also, I have a strong desire to increase my knowledge to provide more comprehensive patient care. I will be able to better meet the needs of a larger WOC patient population.
Kristin Wellwood, BSN, RN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU? Receiving the fall 2014 scholarship award confirms my decision to become a WOC nurse. I am very grateful to have received this award to help better my career.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION AS A WOC NURSE? I have wanted to be a WOC nurse since the day I graduated nursing school. WOC nurses are able to use their critical thinking skills on a daily basis and are able to change people’s lives through their treatment and education.
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Kathleen Francis, CWOCN, FNP-BC WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU?
I am very grateful to have received the fall 2014 scholarship award. As we all know, tuition and ancillary costs have been rising steadily. This award will help me continue my advanced education by offsetting expenses, such as books.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION AS A WOC NURSE?
With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, it is particularly important for the WOC nurse to have the advanced education needed to analyze, evaluate and disseminate research so they can improve patient outcomes.
Ann Marie Feinstein, BSN, RN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU? I am truly honored to be the recipient of the WOCN Scholarship Award. This award is not only meaningful financially, but professionally. I am very grateful for the financial support to help offset the cost of my tuition.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
The past nine years I have been an active member of the SWAT (skin and wound assessment team) at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and have been the skin care resource in the perioperative area. I recently chose to be certified as a WOC nurse so I can continue my acute care experience with this patient population. In addition, I plan on working with patients who will be or have undergone urinary or fecal diversions.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Jessica Held, MSN, RN, FNP-BC WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU?
Being chosen as a recipient of the WOCN Society’s fall 2014 accredited scholarship is an amazing honor. To me, this scholarship means I am making the correct choices to guide my career in the right direction and have proven to be a worthy applicant.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
My experience in working as an RN with the CWOCNs at my workplace sparked my interest in WOC nursing. I feel CWOCNs provide a more personal level of support and healing, which I love to offer my patients. My new career as a WOC nurse is just beginning and I cannot wait to continue sharing my passion for wound care with many patients to come!
Dr. Tonia Butler, DNP, FNP-BC WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU?
Receiving the fall 2014 WOCN scholarship is such an honor and a blessing. With the scholarship, I am able to financially pursue the educational component of becoming a skilled and credible WOC nurse.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
Working as family nurse practitioner, specifically with the geriatric population, I find myself providing treatment to people with wounds quite often. It has become of extreme importance to me to seek more education, specialized training and national certification in this field to further advance my knowledge and skills necessary to provide expert care for patients with acute and chronic wounds, standard and continent diversions, fecal and urinary incontinence, foot and nail pathologies and those at risk for loss of limb.
Barbara Brown, BSN, RN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU? Receiving this award makes me feel that WOCN Society recognizes the need to assist in the provision of enrichment for WOC nurses. It also lessened the expense of it all. Thanks, WOCN Society.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
I desire to be a WOC nurse so that I can provide optimal care and services to the growing wound/ostomy population in the communities in which I serve/practice.
Hayley Hardt, BSN, RN WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE FALL 2014 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MEAN TO YOU? Receiving this scholarship has given me the opportunity to attend WOC nursing school to pursue my dream.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WOC NURSE?
I want to be a WOC nurse because I want to give back to those individuals that have wounds, an ostomy or continence issues, and help them return to their highest quality of life.
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PERSPECTIVES
Putting Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing in Canada into Perspective BY SUSAN MILLS ZORZES, BSCN, MDE, RN, CWOCN, CETN(C)
W
hile both American and Canadian wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nurses share a common history in founders Norma Gill and Dr. Rupert Turnbull and the Cleveland Clinic Enterostomal Therapy Nursing Education Program, differences in practice, education and certification have evolved over time. The following factors have significantly impacted the delivery of WOC care in Canada: • While our two countries are almost the same size in area, Canada has about one-tenth the population of the United States and, therefore about one-tenth the number of nurses within in our specialty. • About 75 percent of Canadians live within 100 miles of the Canada-U.S. border. • The remaining 25 percent live in towns, villages and remote areas covering approximately 95 percent of our country. • Canada has two official languages: French and English. • Canada’s healthcare system is based on equal access for all. • Our 10 provinces and three territories administer and deliver healthcare services to their residents. • Entry to practice requirements for 18
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Registered Nurses has changed over the past 10 years to a baccalaureate degree in all provinces but Quebec. • Access to baccalaureate nursing education programs lagged behind the U.S. until online programs became significantly more available over the same 10-year period.
ET NURSING IN CANADA
In 1981, as the number of Canadian Enterostomal Therapy (ET) Nurses increased, the decision was made to separate from the North American Association of Enterostomal Therapists (now the WOCN Society) to form the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy (CAET) to better reflect and represent ET nurses and ET nursing practice in Canada. The officially recognized title for a WOC nurse in Canada is an ET nurse.
PRACTICE
Parallel to the American experience, ET nursing expanded in the 1970s and 1980s to include wound and continence care. These three aspects of practice mesh well together and support ET nurses to provide holistic care to our patients – a key value that ET nurses bring in this time of technical and fragmented care. Like our American counterparts, Canadian ET nurses practice in acute, long term and home care, in outpatient clinics and private practice, as
The officially recognized title for a WOC nurse in Canada is an ET nurse. educators, administrators and researchers. With the population distribution described above and provincial rather than national responsibility for health care, there are inequities in access to some aspects of advanced diagnostics and care between provinces and regions. ET nurses are in the forefront exploring ways to provide equitable care to all Canadians with wound, ostomy or continence issues through development of provincial and/or regional guidelines, using technology to meet, plan care and educate these vulnerable patients and their caregivers.
EDUCATION
Over time there have been ET Nursing Education Programs (ETNEP) in Canada affiliated with hospitals or universities. Historically these programs are expensive to run. In 1995 the last two programs closed when the universities chose to concentrate on programs that showed a profit and ended in a degree. While some Canadian nurses voluntarily chose and still choose to attend ET nursing programs (WOC Nursing Education Programs [WOCNEPs]) in the U.S., there was no longer a Canadian option in English or French. To obtain the
MEMBER BENEFIT
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PERSPECTIVES
About the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy The Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy (CAET) is the national professional organization for Registered Nurses and Associates specialized in the areas of wound, ostomy and continence care. For over 30 years, the CAET has served about 366 members who are committed to providing the highest quality of tri-specialty nursing care in wound, ostomy and continence. A volunteer board of directors represents British Columbia and the Yukon, the Prairies and North West Territories, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. As the national voice for Enterostomal Therapy Nurses, the CAET promotes excellence through education, research and advocacy and supports leadership development for Enterostomal Therapy Nurses. For more information, visit www.caet.ca.
needed education, Canadian nurses had to travel to the U.S., paying tuition fees that fluctuated with the Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate by as much as 40 percent. Others without baccalaureate degrees were no longer eligible. This left long-term continuation of our specialty in doubt. Although upon completion of an ETNEP graduates may not practice in all areas, Canadian ET nurses must complete a program recognized by the World Congress of Enterostomal Therapy (WCET) offering theory and practice in the three aspects of our tri-specialty. In 1996, CAET developed and delivered a bilingual, distance education program, the CAET-ETNEP, that would meet the needs of Canadians. This program has continued to evolve. In 2005 as the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses grew, admission requirements changed to a baccalaureate degree. To meet the growing standards for distance education and the increasing body of ET nursing knowledge, in 2007, the program changed to consist of 4 interactive online courses and 225 hours of preceptorship over one year. CAET believes that ET nurses are well prepared to educate others to support our patients with WOC issues. The ETNEP has recently expanded to become the CAET Academy, offering additional courses for
health care professionals who wish to improve their knowledge of WOC and lymphedema. Other courses are in the planning stages.
CERTIFICATION
Canadian ET nurses who attended American WOCNEPs were eligible to become American board certified. However, graduates of Canadian ETNEPs were not eligible. More importantly, this certification is not recognized in Canada. All nursing specialties must be recognized and certified through competency based examinations administered by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). CAET committed to a 10-year process to support Canadian certification of ET nurses resulting in the first examination in 2009. ET nurses are the only specialty recognized and certified by CNA as nursing specialists in WOC. In conclusion, while we have our differences, American WOC nurses and Canadian ET nurses face many of the same challenges such as reimbursement for appropriate supplies for our patients, access to an a specialty WOC or ET nurse, and recognition of our expertise by payors (in our case government funded agencies and employers). In conclusion, we still have much to learn from each other.
The Members-Only Forums: Have you Posted Today? BY MEGAN G R A N T, MEMBERSHIP C O O R D I N AT O R
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ne of the WOCN Society’s most valuable benefits is the members-only Forums. Located under the Membership tab, the Forums are the easiest ways to connect with fellow members of the WOCN Society. The Forums are a wonderful networking tool and a great way to seek answers and advice from other professionals in wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care. If you are facing a new challenge in your practice and want insight into how others would handle the situation, you can post a new topic to the forum category that applies to your question. The WOCN Society currently has seven active Forums, including wound, ostomy, continence and professional practice. In addition to posting a new topic, you can use the search feature on the Forums main page to see if a similar question has already been posed to the community in the past. This is an excellent, streamlined way to find solutions to similar issues while you are waiting for replies on a new post. The Forums also enable you to share your expertise with the membership. Subscribe to updates to be alerted daily or when new posts are made. Contributing to other members’ questions on the Forums is vital to ensuring that our community continues to grow and support one another in the practice of WOC nursing.
Need more help using the Forums?
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Watch our Forums Posts and Replies video tutorial and other video tutorials for the WOCN website at www.wocn. org/?page=videotutorials. IN IT FOR YOU | ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
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PUBLIC POLICY
WOCN Public Policy Update B Y C H R I S R O R I C K , M PA , S E N I O R P O L I C Y A D V I S O R K AT H L E E N G . L AW R E N C E , M S N , R N , C W O C N , P U B L I C P O L I C Y A N D A D V O C A C Y C O O R D I N AT O R
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015 will mark the beginning of, not only a new year, but also a new Congress which is highlighted by a new Republican majority in the U.S. Senate. It will also serve as the second full year of nearly universal health insurance coverage as mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These changes in Congress and in healthcare policy continue to keep the WOCN Society public policy staff and members busy as we fight hard to protect our profession and our patients. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from 2014 and the challenges that lie ahead for 2015.
GLOBAL SURGICAL CODING CHANGES
In 2014 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they were proposing to eliminate both the 10- and 90-day surgical global codes that currently capture all payments for procedures performed pre- and post-surgery during that time period. CMS is concerned that this global coding does not provide enough data to adequately assess the value and payment methodology for the services provided within that period. Rather than lumping all those services into a single payment, CMS is proposing to pay for each of the services separately. The WOCN Society has been following this proposal closely and has provided initial comments back to CMS in support of this proposal. We believe that an unbundled payment methodology will more adequately value the services of a WOC nurse and the role they play during that period of care. In addition, we believe that our patients will benefit from a new payment structure by allowing payment for additional follow-up procedures and services if needed rather than limiting follow up to a defined payment regardless of need. CMS is moving forward with this proposal during 2015 and is expected to make additional announcements about how this new payment methodology will be structured. The Society will continue to monitor this proposal and keep the membership up to date.
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IN IT FOR YOU | ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME) FACE-TO-FACE REQUIREMENT
As you are undoubtedly aware, the ACA has altered how nurses can order DME products for their patients. CMS is deliberating the implementation of a provision of the ACA that requires a physician to document that the physician, PA, NP or CNS has had a face-to-face encounter examination with a beneficiary in the six months prior to the written order for certain items of DME. The face-toface encounter conducted by the physician, PA, NP or CNS must document that the beneficiary was evaluated and/or treated for a condition that supports the item(s) of DME ordered. In the case of a DME ordered by a PA, NP or CNS, a physician (MD or DO) must document the occurrence of a face-to-face encounter by signing/co-signing and dating the pertinent portion of the medical record. Failure to meet any of the requirements will result in denial of the claim. The nursing community, including the WOCN Society, has been opposed to the implementation of this provision over concerns that the MD oversight requirement is unnecessary and will reduce patient access to DME products. Since 1997, both NPs and CNSs have been authorized by CMS to order DME. Ordering DME for patients is clearly an activity that is within the scope of practice of APRNs. This burden would inhibit a patient’s ability to receive timely and quality care, especially in parts of the country that are already designated as a health professional shortage area. This provision was initially supposed to be effective July 1, 2013; however, CMS has delayed the full implementation of the provision, as a result of the concerns expressed by the nursing community and others, indefinitely. On Dec. 23, 2104 CMS announced the following: “Due to continued concerns that some providers and suppliers may need additional time to establish operational protocols necessary to comply with face-to-face encounter requirements mandated by the ACA for certain items of DME, CMS will not start actively enforcing or expect full compliance with the DME face-to-face requirements until further notice.”
PUBLIC POLICY
IN EVERY ISSUE
The undersigned organizations strive to ensure that any individual living with a permanent or temporary ostomy has access to quality healthcare services, a baccalaureate-prepared or advanced practice certified ostomy specialty nurse, and the prescribed medical prosthetic technology needed to preserve their health and well-being.
We ask that Congress and the Administration:
More than 700,000 Americans – from infants to senior citizens – have had ostomy surgery. Over 120,000 people each year have fecal or urinary ostomies. An ostomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of diseased portions of the gastrointestinal or urinary system and creation of an artificial opening in the abdomen to allow for the elimination of body wastes, which in most instances, makes the use of a prosthetic device a necessity. An ostomy procedure is essential for many individuals who suffer from serious chronic or lifethreatening illnesses such as colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, birth defects, and other intestinal or urinary medical conditions. Also, ostomies are necessary in certain cases of severe abdominal and/or pelvic trauma. In recent years, there has been an increase in such traumatic injuries suffered by soldiers on active duty in the military. For individuals suffering from such conditions, ostomy surgery is both life-saving and life-changing. Following ostomy surgery, a person can no longer toilet normally. Rather, they require specially-fitted medical devices – in most cases for the rest of their lives - which allow them to engage in activities of daily living, be physically active, participate in the workforce, etc., thus ensuring their physical and emotional well-being. On-going innovation in ostomy management technology and access to certified ostomy specialty nurses have dramatically improved the lives of those who have undergone ostomy surgery. Ensuring that the right ostomy device is available to meet each individual’s permanent health care needs post-surgery is a vital part of recovery and rehabilitation.
Guiding Principles For Sustainable Access to Ostomy Services, Technologies and Innovation
Guiding Principles For Sustainable Access to Ostomy Services, Technologies and Innovation
Guiding Principles For Sustainable Access to Ostomy Services, Technologies and Innovation
Acknowledge that ostomy devices are defined as prosthetics under the Social Security Act and should be categorized, covered, and reimbursed by government and private insurers in a manner that recognizes that designation; Recognize the important role that baccalaureate-prepared or advanced practice certified ostomy specialty nurses have in the selection and fitting of ostomy devices for patients, and in the education/training of individuals in the proper use of the devices; Recognize that individuals require access to specific ostomy devices that meet their specific medical needs, and that such products are not generic, one-size-fits-all commodities; Realize that ostomy devices, as prosthetics, are not appropriate for inclusion in competitive bidding programs or other similar programs that eliminate access to the array of ostomy products that are medically necessary to meet their specific health care needs; Ensure fair coding and coverage processes that will permit new ostomy prosthetic technologies to come to market and encourage continued private investment in the development of such technologies; and Ensure Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers within healthcare exchange marketplaces cover the full-range of prescribed ostomy medical devices needed as a result of ostomy surgery, and do so in a manner that is not economically burdensome for the consumer or the overall healthcare system.
Ostomy devices are necessary for restoring lost functionality as a result of surgery, and as such, are defined in the Social Security Act as prosthetics. Like any prosthetic, they are selected and fitted for individuals based on the unique medical and physical needs of each person with the assistance of specially trained health care professionals.
Supporters: • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) Cleveland Clinic – R.B. Turnbull, Jr. MD WOC Nursing Education Program ConvaTec, Inc. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Medicine Nursing Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education Center Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) Great Comebacks® Harrisburg Area Wound Care Specialty Program and WOC Nursing Education Program – Sponsored by Wicks Educational Associates, Inc. Hollister Incorporated Nu-Hope Laboratories, Inc. Society for Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA) Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (SGNA) Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) University of Virginia Graduate Program in WOC Nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing webWoC Nursing Education Program Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®) Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) Youth Rally Committee, Inc. (YRC)
Despite their statutory designation as prosthetics, ostomy products are classified and reimbursed by government and private insurers in various categories such as “medical supplies,” “durable medical equipment,” or “optional benefits” – categories that do not recognize the prosthetic, life-restoring nature of these devices. This lack of appropriate classification limits an individual’s access to proper ostomy care products, creates patient safety issues, and inhibits innovation in new ostomy technology. Further, as a result of provider cost-cutting, nurse shortages and other reasons, the selection and fitting of ostomy devices is often performed without the benefit of a baccalaureate prepared or advanced practice certified ostomy specialty nurse. This situation puts patients at risk and adds to health care costs when inappropriate and ill-fitting ostomy prosthetics lead to skin complications, infections, physician office visits, emergency room visits and, in some cases, hospitalizations. The undersigned organizations and individuals, therefore, adopt the following set of principles to support policy development, ensure sustainable access to ostomy services and prosthetic devices, and to promote continued innovation in ostomy technology.
T H E W O C N S O C I E T Y, C O N VAT E C , I N C . , A N D T H E U N I T E D O S T O M Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F A M E R I C A W O R K E D T O G E T H E R T O D E V E L O P T H E G U I D I N G P R I N C I P L E S F O R S U S TA I N A B L E A C C E S S T O O S T O M Y S E R V I C E S , T E C H N O L O G I E S A N D I N N O VAT I O N . V I S I T W W W . W O C N . O R G T O R E A D T H E F U L L D O C U M E N T.
This continued delay has caused confusion in the field as providers are being told by companies and contractors that the rule is already in effect despite the fact that an enforcement date has not yet been released by CMS. If you are experiencing this issue, we encourage you to challenge companies and contractors by directing them to the CMS December 2014 announcement, found here: http://go.cms.gov/1HMype7.
WOUND DEBRIDEMENT SUPERVISION
CMS relies on an advisory panel called the Hospital Outpatient Payment Panel (HOPP) to provide them with guidance on a number of issues related to the outpatient setting, including supervision level requirements. In April 2014, the HOPP proposed to change a number of supervision level requirements from direct supervision to general supervision. This means that the procedure must be given under a physician or non-physician practitioners overall direction and control but does not require their presence during the service. Among the services that the HOPP suggested become a general supervision requirement was 97597, “debridement, open wound, including topical application(s), wound assessment, use of a whirlpool, when performed and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session, total wound(s) surface area; first 20 sq cm or less.” However, CMS rejected the advice of the HOPP and refused to change the supervision requirement for this procedure. CMS argued that since this procedure included debridement with a sharp instrument it was not within the scope of practice for nursing. The WOCN Society has heard from a number of members who have expressed concern with this decision and the Society is actively working with CMS to better understand their rational. We are hopeful that we can continue to work with CMS to get them to reconsider this decision and accept the HOPP proposal to change the supervision requirement as we believe this is clearly within the scope of a WOC nurse.
MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR COMPRESSION STOCKINGS
The WOCN Society Board of Directors has approved a new policy position paper that encourages expanded Medicare coverage of
compression stockings. The document, included in this issue of In It For You and available on the WOCN Society’s website in the Document Library, specifically endorses The Lymphedema Treatment Act currently before the U.S. Congress and would allow Medicare coverage of the compression supplies needed for the treatment of lymphedema and reduce recurrence of venous leg ulcers. Currently, Medicare does not cover provider-prescribed compression therapy supplies for the treatment and prevention of lymphedema or prevention of Venous Leg Ulcer (VLU) recurrence. The WOCN Society believes that comprehensive coverage of compression therapy represents the best clinical and cost-effective practice for treatment of VLU and believes that expanded coverage of compression is both cost effective and clinically appropriate.
OSTOMY GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The WOCN Society, ConvaTec, Inc., and the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) have worked together to form an alliance of provider, patient organizations and medical technology manufacturers. The alliance’s goal is to ensure people living with a permanent or temporary ostomy have access to appropriate health services to maintain their health care and access to the medical prosthetic technology prescribed to meet their specific needs. As policy makers, both at the state and federal level, and private insurers look to reduce healthcare costs, there is always concern that medically necessary products, like ostomy supplies, could fall victim to budget cuts or a narrowing of benefits. Oftentimes, coverage for ostomy supplies is limited as a means to reduce costs as these supplies are often categorized as non-essential. The Guiding Principles For Sustainable Access to Ostomy Services, Technologies and Innovation intend to provide you with a resource to explain to policy makers why ostomy supplies are indeed essential and we should look to expand coverage, not reduce coverage. The supporting organizations have agreed to the principles as defined in the document, and encourage WOCN Society members to support the principles, as defined in the document, with policy makers. IN IT FOR YOU | ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
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IN EVERY ISSUE
CORPORATE MEMBER NEWS
Stryker Medical
Edgepark Medical Supplies
Stryker Corporation recently announced the asset acquisition of privately-held CHG Hospital Beds, Inc. (CHG). CHG, headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, sells innovative hospital beds that serve markets across Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. CHG designs, manufactures and markets a series of low-height beds and related accessories.
At Edgepark, we continuously grow our network of insurance coverage to give your patients greater access and savings when ordering ostomy supplies. We are excited to announce that we now accept State Medicaid plans in 29 states, allowing us to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for many additional patients.
ManukaMed
B o o t h #383
B o o t h #671
B o o t h #161
ManukaMed Advanced Wound Care dressings have been designed to assist wound care clinicians in accelerating wound healing and reducing overall associated costs. ManukaMed recently appointed Dr. Tanya Rhodes as CEO of ManukaMed USA LLC to build upon our leadership position in the science and clinical evidence of Manuka Honey.
LINET Americas B o o t h #637
LINET’s new Protevo GTE Microclimate mattress provides flexible therapy to meet the needs of your patients. The Microclimate cover provides a cooling airflow to keep excess moisture from collecting while self-adjusting air cells automatically redistribute pressure to provide maximum comfort. For further customization, the air cells also provide alternating pressure to neutralize shear forces and minimize pressure points.
Goodmark Medical B o o t h #655
A new study reports that using Smart Bed Technology® Solution dramatically reduces pressure ulcers in LTC residents. Using Smart Bed Technology resulted in 84.5 percent decrease in new pressure ulcers during a 12-week study in three LTC facilities. The number of pressure ulcers declined by 50 percent from baseline to the end of study period.
Fresh Wave IAQ B o o t h #456
Fresh Wave IAQ continues to gain ground in hospital systems as a natural, non-toxic odor control product for wound and ostomy care. Visit us at booth #456 for a free sample and to learn more about Fresh Wave IAQ odor eliminating products.
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B o o t h #542
DUKAL Corporation DUKAL Corporation has entered into an exclusive agreement with Curaline Inc. for sale and distribution of DevraSorb™ Foam Dressings in the U.S. and Canada. These products feature an innovative core of superabsorbent polyurethane foam, and are constructed of a patent-pending formula that provides superior absorption, wound cleansing and painless release.
BioMonde LLC B o o t h #724
BioMonde manufactures and sells the innovative, new biosurgical medical device BioBag. BioMonde has established a new manufacturing facility and corporate offices in Gainesville, Florida, to bring BioBag, an established debridement treatment for non‐ healing wounds in the United Kingdom and Europe, to the U.S. market for the first time.
Acelity
B o o t h #552 Acelity is a global wound care and regenerative medicine company, created by uniting the strengths of KCI, LifeCell and Systagenix. We are committed to advancing the science of healing and restoring people’s lives. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Acelity delivers value through our portfolio of innovative and complementary solutions that speed healing, reduce complications and lead the industry in quality, safety and customer experience. We believe in enabling better futures for everyone. Please visit www. acelity.com.
11Health & Technology LLC B o o t h #751
11Health is delighted to announce that our Ostom-I Alert Sensor has secured full FDA 510K approval. It is now available and can be prescribed for both hospital and home use. We have an insurance reimbursement code that can be used, subject to subscribers’ individual policies. For more information, visit www.11health.com.
CORPORATE MEMBER NEWS
IN EVERY ISSUE
Alliqua BioMedical Inc.
Medela
Alliqua BioMedical, Inc., a provider of advanced wound care products, recently announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Celleration, Inc., a privately held medical device company, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, focused on developing and commercializing the MIST Therapy® therapeutic ultrasound platform for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds.
Medela is now offering two new NPWT devices! Both are discrete and personal. Invia Motion – Endure conforms to a patient’s lifestyle throughout NPWT treatment and Invia Motion – 15 Days delivers up to 15 days of uninterrupted therapy. Medela’s NPWT portfolio provides choices in pressure settings, foam/gauze dressings and a compliment of useful notifications.
Sizewise
Joerns RecoverCare
Sizewise Worldwide unveiled the industry’s first pressure redistribution medical mattress with skinsensing technology – the NPT3™. It revolutionizes microclimate management, offering a balance of therapy and temperature control helping improve patient outcomes. New viscoelastic memory foam infused with gel helps patients maintain an ideal skin temperature. For more information, visit www.sizewise.net.
Joerns RecoverCare has launched ClimateCare™, a unique mattress coverlet system that provides microclimate management. It features best-in-class moisture vapor transfer from a system that is easy to use and is comprised of both reusable and disposable components to reduce infection control risk. ClimateCare is compatible with many therapeutic surfaces.
BioDerm
B o o t h #442
B o o t h #566
B o o t h #665
B o o t h #731
BioDerm is thrilled to announce that the CathGrip line of hydrocolloid catheter securement products is now available through the Premier Healthcare Alliance GPO contract. All Premier facilities now have access to this innovative technology to help reduce tube dislodgement and the incidence of infection. In addition, CathGrip’s unique hydrocolloid conforms to the patient’s skin to ensure their comfort while securing any tube from 2-47 Fr with a single device.
Posey Company B o o t h #727
Posey recently received two innovative technology awards. Novation identified the Posey Beveled Floor Cushion and PoseyPartners™ S.A.F.E. Approach to Falls Management as offerings that optimize patient outcomes and safety. MedAssets also recognized the S.A.F.E. program for its ability to elevate patient care and facility efficiency.
Sage Products B o o t h #121
Sage Products LLC provides preventative healthcare products trusted by leading healthcare facilities worldwide. We have a core belief in prevention—that simple, evidence-based, interventions lead to extraordinary outcomes. Sage has joined with the WOCN Society to develop the Partners in Prevention program, providing educational events throughout the year to support the prevention of pressure ulcers.
B o o t h #743
B o o t h #470
Derma Sciences, Inc. This year Derma Sciences, Inc., a tissue regeneration company focused on advanced wound care, added AMNIOEXCEL® Membrane and AMNIOMATRIX® Suspension, amniotic allografts. Amniotic tissue technology facilitates wound healing with difficult, hard to heal wounds. These product lines continue to be adopted by clinicians in many healthcare facilities.
Strive Medical B o o t h #726
In 2014 Strive Medical launched The Healing Touch Program. This program is designed to help patients who don’t have health insurance gain access to advanced wound care products. Millions of wounds go unhealed because patients can’t afford the specific wound care products they need. For more information register at www.strivemedical.com/account/login.
Casex Industria B o o t h #752
For 30 years, CASEX has produced ostomy bags and wound dressings, with a presence in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. We are now introducing a new line developed especially for the North American market. Life care is a priority in the company.
IN IT FOR YOU | ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
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F E AT U R E
VOLUNTEER
Calling all Volunteers
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B Y C H R I S S Y K I S S I N G E R , D I R E C T O R O F V O L U N T E E R R E L AT I O N S
he WOCN Society has created an ongoing Volunteer Form (www. wocn.org/volunteerform). This volunteer form allows members to volunteer at any time throughout the year for committees, special task forces, content validation and/or peer review. The Society is looking for passionate members to volunteer for special projects. Those projects include content validation, peer review, pilot testing, committees and special task forces. The more volunteers we have, the more value we can offer to the membership at large. Service on a task force is a short-term commitment with a targeted focus towards
specific expected outcomes. With a task force model of volunteer service we are now soliciting members based upon expertise and experience. Please note, if you choose a special task force, you will be called upon based on your expertise as various projects arise throughout the year. Service on a committee is a two-year term with the ability to serve a second term. Please note, while there are not specific committees listed in the volunteer form, your areas of expertise will be closely matched and aligned with the roles and responsibilities of the committees. We invite you to join our active and resourceful group of volunteers. Many of
Volunteer Form NOW AVAILABLE!
We’ve made it easy for you to volunteer with the WOCN Society. Become active at the national level, improve your leadership skills and earn professional growth points while expanding your professional experience. Complete the volunteer form at www.wocn.org/volunteerform.
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us may not consider ourselves experts or as having sufficient experience to be of service; however, the WOCN Society values your expertise and encourages your involvement. If you are a current committee member, you can still volunteer to serve on a special project! If you are interested in becoming active at the national level, improving your leadership skills, and earning professional growth points while expanding your professional experience, volunteer for the WOCN Society by completing the volunteer form (www.wocn.org/ volunteerform).
IN IT FOR YOU | ISSUE 5, SPRING 2015
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Please join us at San Antonio’s historic Majestic Theatre to honor those who have faced the challenge of ostomy surgery and those who have helped them regain their lives and achieve their dreams.
Great Comebacks®
National Awards Event at the WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference
Saturday, June 6 6:30 pm reception; 7:00 pm dinner Majestic Theatre, San Antonio
Register Now! www.wocnconference.com (click on “Great Comebacks” in the Program Info tab) Registered attendees of WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference are invited to attend the event at no charge. However, those registering for the Great Comebacks event are asked to make a $20 donation to support the WOCN Society and Youth Rally. Registration is required; walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration for this event is separate from registration for the WOCN Society’s 47th Annual Conference. Certain states, such as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Vermont, impose restrictions on meals and/or refreshments offered to healthcare practitioners. By accepting the meal and/ or refreshments offered with this program, you represent that neither the state(s) in which you are licensed nor your employer(s) prevent you from accepting these items. If you are licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or actively licensed in Vermont and would like to attend the Great Comebacks® Program, your state requires that you reimburse ConvaTec for the fair market value for your meal. In adherence with AdvaMed guidelines, this medical education program is for healthcare professionals only. Inclusion of a healthcare professional’s spouse or other guests is prohibited. US Physicians Only: In adherence with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Federal Sunshine) your name and the cost of the meal issued at this event will be subject to Federal reporting and disclosure. If you prefer to “opt out” and decline the meal associated with this event, you must indicate in your RSVP email to ConvaTec. US Physicians will be required to provide ConvaTec with their NPI or state license number before admittance to this event. Great Comebacks® is sponsored by ConvaTec in partnership with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCFA), the United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA), the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society (IDEAS), the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). Great Comebacks and the Great Comebacks Logo are registered trademarks of ConvaTec Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 ConvaTec Inc.
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