Ostomy surgery is life-altering/body-altering but is also life-saving. Finding a healthcare professional with specific training in ostomy care is crucial for successful patient outcomes. In order to achieve a desirable quality of life, a person undergoing ostomy or continent diversion surgery must have support and access to high-quality care in all healthcare settings throughout the continuum of their care.
Ideally counseling and care should be provided by a trained medical professional such as a Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN), Ostomy Nurse, Ostomy Care Associate (OCA), or Ostomy Management Specialist (OMS).
Telemedicine ostomy services help patients receive remote care and are now offered across the country. Living in rural areas, in need of immediate consultation, those who are homebound or far away from outpatient ostomy clinics and certified ostomy nurses shouldn’t prevent ostomy patients from receiving care.
NEW TELEMEDICINE SERVICE FROM UOAA!
UOAA’s Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company has launched to bring ostomy nurses to ostomates and their caregivers across the United States virtually. The Wound Company’s Certified Ostomy Nurses will provide people with personalized support via Zoom, SMS and email for 30 days in the privacy of their own home.
Certified Ostomy Nurse Locators:
Find in your local area a Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Nurse or an Ostomy Management Specialist (OMS).
Find an OMS
Note: After selecting a state in the Find an OMS form, type OMS in the Search box.
MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER SERVICES:
In addition, many manufacturers and suppliers offer personalized ostomy assistance services for both patients and healthcare professionals that can include ostomy nurse clinical support, product support assistance, educational tools and more.
ADDITIONAL TELEMEDICINE SERVICES:
Below are additional telemedicine companies available throughout the country.
Please note: UOAA does not endorse particular products, manufacturers, or suppliers, and is not responsible for any content expressed in their websites.
WOCN Patient Resource Center
A list of many useful resources compiled by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN):
Contact Us
United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 2293
Biddeford, ME 04005-2293
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-826-0826.
Our Information Line hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to 3pm EST. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local medical professional.
Please understand that UOAA is a private, nonprofit, advocacy and informational organization. We are not a medical facility and we do not have medical or legal professionals on staff. Therefore, UOAA does not provide Medical, Mental Health, Insurance or Legal Advice. Visit UOAA Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company for non-emergency, virtual ostomy support.
Get Involved
UOAA is the leading organization proactively advocating on behalf of the ostomy community. Recognizing that we are always stronger together, we encourage everyone to get involved by joining our Advocacy Network. We’ve also created several Advocacy Tools and Resources to help you successfully advocate on behalf of the ostomy community to ensure every ostomate receives quality care.