6279 Starting An Ostomy Support Group

Maureen W. McCarthy, RN, BSN, CWON1, Kerri Giannino, RN, BSN, WOCN2 and Laura Berry, RN, BSN, CWOCN1, (1)Massachusetts General Hospital, Wound Ostomy Nurse, Boston, MA, (2)Massachusetts General Hospital, Wound/Ostomy Nurse, Boston, MA
There was not an ostomy support group at our large urban teaching hospital. Clearly there was a need. Our comprehensive WOCN practice sees patient in Stoma Clinic preoperatively for teaching and stoma marking, through their hospitalization as well as an outpatient.  We treat infants to elderly. We knew our patients would benefit from a support group.

Administration was very supportive of us forming a support group. This made securing a meeting place (the conference room located in our clinic) and a budget a reality.  Our budget covered postage, copy costs, and refreshments. We chose a time of day and date for meeting different than other local support groups, so patients had another choice.

  • Contact our potential attendees: data gathered from the inpatient order entry system over the past several months. Another list of patients was gathered from clinic records. A direct mailing was done to these patients.
  • Inform the surgeons (general, colorectal, oncology, gyn/onc and urology), NPs and nurses: accomplished via email and sending support group fliers to their offices for posting. Also emailed fellow WOCNs in the area.
  • Reach new patients: support group fliers included in each new patient educational packet.  support group information is listed in our post op instructions. fliers also posted in Stoma Clinic.
  • Tapped local Ostomy Association in the city: they emailed our flier through their email contact list, and will add our info to their website;   representatives attended first meeting
  • Recruited a social worker: facilitate  meetings, help patients deal with emotional issues, recognize need for further individual counseling that she could offer, able to acquire parking vouchers for our support group guests.
  • Plan future guests for meetings:  a registered dietician and manufacturer reps.
  • Continued out reach to increase attendance