Assess a person’s ostomy
in one comprehensive telehealth assessment by Zoom in the beginning of the 30-day period.
Ostomies change bodies and lives. People living with an ostomy need personalized suggestions and ongoing support from medical experts who really understand ostomies. In the healthcare system today, too many ostomates do not have the regular access to a certified ostomy nurse they need for a successful health journey. This is why UOAA has partnered with The Wound Company – to bring certified ostomy nurses to ostomates and their caregivers across the United States virtually. For a one-time direct payment of $125, The Wound Company’s certified ostomy nurses provide people with personalized support via Zoom, text SMS and email for 30 days – in the privacy of their own home.
Whether it’s a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy, a new ostomate learning to care for their stoma or an existing ostomate grappling with new complications, the journey can be overwhelming. UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company offers support through telehealth visits and ongoing touchpoints via texting and emailing to make sure ostomates have the right supplies for their unique situation and thoroughly understand how to care for their ostomy. This telehealth service is provided by nurses certified through the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Certification Board (WOCNCB).
A new ostomy can be emotionally distressing, causing feelings of embarrassment and self-consciousness. People may struggle to accept the change and often feel like they will never be able to master the care of their new ostomy independently. Caregivers also feel overwhelmed when tending to a loved-one with a new ostomy at home, in an assisted living community or in a skilled nursing facility. That’s why UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic is here, so ostomates and their caregivers have personalized guidance, education and emotional support – not just for one short visit but for 30 days – until they feel comfortable and ready to move forward independently.
Learning to care for a stoma and the surrounding skin can be overwhelming for ostomates. Lack of proper education can lead to skin irritation or other complications. UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company helps ostomates and their caregivers navigate to the correct type of pouch and predictable pouch changes without skin irritation.
People living with an ostomy or continent diversion often have questions about their diet and nutrition and concerns about how certain foods can affect their stoma output. UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic can provide ongoing guidance on the specific dietary guidelines for each type of ostomy and help ease the uncertainty about what to eat.
Stomas do change initially after surgery and over time. Stomas can get longer or retract below skin level. At times the body contour changes with weight gain or weight loss and the pouch no longer fits properly. Or, ostomates can form a hernia around the stoma which may require a different style of pouch or a special belt. UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company can address these changes promptly without waiting weeks for an appointment with a certified ostomy nurse or traveling long distances.
After Registration
The Wound Company will reach out to the ostomate within 1 business day to schedule the first, comprehensive telehealth assessment. This service is not for medical emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, please dial 9-11.
Emergency Care
This program is not for emergency medical care. If this is a medical emergency requiring immediate assistance, please dial 9-11.
Location Details
Ostomates must reside in the United States of America.
Ostomate Information
The ostomate must currently have one or more ostomies to participate in the program. The ostomate must be over 18 years of age to register for the program and adults cannot register on behalf of children with ostomies
Service Hours & Holidays
Business Hours are 8AM to 4:30PM CT Monday through Friday. Nurses do not respond outside of business hours and services are not available on weekends.
Services are not available on the following Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day.
Language
Services are available in English only. The ostomate and their caregiver may independently arrange for an interpreter to aid in consent and communication.
United Ostomy Associations of America
UOAA recognizes the ostomy patient population in the United States continues to be underserved. This is evident through the consistent stories from people who reach out to UOAA for information and support after receiving poor-quality of care following their ostomy surgery. Patients often are sent home from the hospital without an understanding of the supply ordering process, lack of education and psychosocial support, and a lack of access to follow up ostomy care. These health disparities are even worse for ostomy patients from marginalized populations or in rural areas. These deficits lead to diminished quality of life.
UOAA is the leading organization advocating for the ostomy community and whose mission is to promote quality of life for people living with ostomies and continent diversions. We have been proactive to address these issues and find solutions such as this new partnership with The Wound Company.
As UOAA does not provide medical, mental health, insurance or legal advice, with this new partnership The Wound Company can bring certified ostomy nursing telehealth services to people in need of additional support. UOAA is not providing this telehealth service, it is offered through The Wound Company. The ostomate will enter into an agreement with Wound Company Provider Group not UOAA.
The Wound Company
The Wound Company does not have relationships with manufacturers of ostomy supplies and provides impartial recommendations solely based on evidenced-based guidelines and what is best for each individual’s case, discussing options and choices where available.