New Products and Industry News
Skin safety award presented at WOCN meeting
3M Critical & Chronic Care Solutions Division (St. Paul, MN) and the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses™ (WOCN®) Society announced the presentation of the 3M Award for Excellence in Skin Safety to the Skin & Wound Assessment & Treatment team at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson, AZ.
The 3M-sponsored award recognizes healthcare facilities and their board-certified WOCN Society members who have implemented a patient care regimen designed to prevent skin injuries. The winning team received financial support through an unrestricted educational grant to attend the recent annual WOCN conference in Seattle, WA.
Facilities were invited to submit summaries of skin care programs that have achieved measurable and sustained results in the area of skin integrity. Entries were judged by a panel of WOCN members selected by the WOCN Society, who evaluated the programs on a number of criteria: demonstration of best-in-class prevention protocols; comprehension, accessibility, and user-friendliness of product formulary; interdisciplinary participation; senior leadership engagement and front-line autonomy; and creative and effective staff and patient education.
For more information, visit www.3M.com/SkinHealth.
Foam dressing introduced at WOCN conference
ConvaTec (Skillman, NJ) introduced AQUACEL® Ag Foam dressing at the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society’s 45th Annual Conference held June 23–26 in Seattle, WA. The product has received 510(k) market clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The foam pad is covered by a waterproof protective top layer that provides controlled moisture vapor transmission and a barrier against viral and bacterial penetration. The silicone border provides secure skin-friendly adhesion.
The foam dressing is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes to conform to a variety of wound types, including sacral and heel wounds.
For more information, visit www.convatec.com.
Ostomy pouch disposal seal premiers at conference
OstoSolutions(Tucson, AZ) premiered the OstoSolutions™ Ostomy Pouch Disposal Seal at the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society’s 45th Annual Conference, June 23–25, 2013 in Seattle.
The patent-pending product is the first and only method on the market today that seals the contents of used ostomy pouches in a 100% odor-proof manner, unlike alternate means (black zipper or food storage bags) not designed for or capable of providing airtight disposal. The lightweight seal, made of recycled plastic, is inserted into the coupling ring opening of any used two-piece, closed-end ostomy pouch or used drainable ostomy pouch with “clipless” tail closure technology. A toilet is not needed for changing the pouch, and by enabling odor-proof disposal, the product ensures discretion no matter where the change is made.
A range of sizes is available to fit different pouch brands, including Hollister, ConvaTec, and Coloplast. For more information, visit www.ostosolutions.com.
Mobile wound management technology used in home health care
WoundMatrix (Chadds Ford, PA) announced its partnership with Home Health VNA of Lawrence, MA. The home health care provider implemented the WoundMatrix smartphone technology in the first quarter of this year. With 800 professionals and more than 500 patients receiving wound care on any single day, visiting nurses and wound care certified clinicians at the home health company use the technology for immediate evaluation and management of wounds.
Onsite care providers for the home health company use a smartphone outfitted with the technology to photograph then instantly transmit the images and data so other providers can access the information, no matter their location, and provide a treatment recommendation.
For more information visit www.woundmatrix.com.
Continence care web portal added
The National Association For Continence (Charleston, SC) has added a Continence Care Management section to its website to provide practical information and guidance for family caregivers and home health aides on how to manage incontinence among their clients. The web section, as well as a caregiver reference guide and educational slide series, is provided by a sponsorship from Attends Healthcare Products, Greenville, NC.
For more information, visit www.nafc.org.
American Academy of Nursing selects Fellows
Janice M. Beitz, PhD, RN, CS, CNOR, CWOCN, CRNP, of Rutgers University, Camden (NJ); and Paula Erwin-Toth, MSN, RN, CWOCN, CNS of Cleveland Clinic (OH) were two of 172 nurse leaders selected for induction as Fellows during The American Academy of Nursing’s 40th annual meeting on October 19, 2013, in Washington, DC.
The Academy is composed of more than 2,000 nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research. The Academy Fellows include hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers.
Selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and healthcare and sponsorship by two current Academy Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed Fellows and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee’s nursing career influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all.
For more information about the Academy and the annual meeting, visit www.AANnet.org.
This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process.
