Purpose: At University of Maryland Medical Center, nursing care delivery is organized within a relationship based care model. As the healthcare arena continues to change and length of stay decreases, there are many challenges which the WOC Nurse faces in promoting quality care for the ostomy patient and family. We have less time to teach our patients, lack quality home care education and follow-up, and are challenged by reimbursement issues. We must partner with other disciplines to promote quality patient/family education to improve the continuum of care. Through this coordination of care, the WOC Nurses have achieved exceptional outcomes by utilizing pre- and post-operative teaching tools in addition to collaborating with support groups, industry, distribution, retailers and home care. Case studies and multiple patient scenarios will illustrate the concept of partnering.

Objectives:

-Provide pre-operative and post-operative care through the use of new innovative tools

-Ensure best practice for the ostomy patient by partnering with industry to provide samples, education material, insurance information and supplier assistance

- Create a comprehensive, systematic approach to guide ostomy patients through the continuum of care

Outcomes: Through partnering with other disciplines, the WOC Nurse continues to meet the challenges of healthcare delivery at University of Maryland Medical Center. By maximizing collaboration with ostomy support groups, industry, home care, and distribution, we have improved patient/family satisfaction as well as staff education.