Professional practice - Restructuring the Wound Ostomy Continence Department; What does it mean for your patients, your hospital, and your practice?

The hospital environment has not been sheltered from the economic down turn faced across the country.  Therefore, when submitting a proposal for additional funding to expand the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Department staffing budget the proposal had to highlight clinical solutions for the patient and financial incentives for the hospital to strengthen the request.  The proposal was accepted and funds where approved to expand the staffing budget from 1.5 FTEs (full time equivalents) to 4.5 FTEs.  Attendees of this education program will gain knowledge regarding identification and consideration for areas to improve practices for your patients and hospital by arming your WOC department with data to strengthen your requests.

 The initial work began with selecting WOCN candidates that would fit the team’s needs which ultimately lead to supporting three new associate through the certification process.  After the expansion of the team several process improvement opportunities were identified that included formalizing the consult process, defining consult types, and implementing new policies and procedures.  Through additional program development the department has gone above and beyond completing patient consults and now monitors our measurable impact to efficient and effective patient care.  Additional program progress included the creation of a Primary Unit program where each WOC Specialist completes out reach to nursing unit associates to improve patient care with education, monitoring unit based data, and mentoring unit-based Wound Resource Nurse teams.  Through these advancements the WOCN Department has become the key stakeholder in the development of evidence based plan of care by engaging all members of the interdisciplinary team.