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YEAR in REVIEW
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WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
LETTER FROM
the President
To our valued members, 2020 was certainly a year wrought with many changes and challenges. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express our appreciation and gratitude for all you have done and continue to do to deliver expert care during this unprecedented time. The circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continue to change daily, and we’re each finding ourselves in difficult situations like never before. As wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) specialty nurses, we’re accustomed to working in less than ideal situations and developing creative solutions where no easy solution exists. Our specialty practice was built by individuals who were faced with challenges but forged ahead. I am confident that this concept was not lost on us as we continued to provide support and to advocate on behalf of our practice and the patients we served throughout 2020. Following a year of tremendous challenges and adversity for so many people, I’m honored to provide you special highlights of what we’ve been able to accomplish together as a community amidst this trying time. Each initiative in this 2020 Year in Review would not have been possible without the efforts put forth by you, our valued members, who continue to lend your time, expertise and voice to advance our specialty practice on behalf of individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. As we start the new year, I ask you to join me as we move forward with the resilience and courage that typifies our current practice and will lead our entire community toward a brighter future. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each one of you for the care and support you give to your patients, colleagues, and the WOC nursing specialty each day, year after year. Your health and wellbeing are top of mind, so please practice with all the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe while you are caring for others. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy New Year ahead! Sincerely,
Stephanie Yates, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CWOCN WOCN Society President
WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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WOCNext 2020 Reimagined This year, we transitioned our annual in-person event into an online-only experience! WOCNext 2020 Reimagined, the WOCN Society’s first-ever, online-only annual conference, united more than 3,600 wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurses and other healthcare professionals from around the world for 2 1/2 days of live, evidence-based wound, ostomy, continence, and foot and nail care education.
THE EVENT FEATURED
70
100+
EXHIBITORS
2
40+
ePOSTERS
50+
SESSIONS
SPEAKERS
DAYS OF ONLINE EDUCATION AND NETWORKING WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 WEEKS FOR POST-EVENT, ON-DEMAND VIEWING.
From our flexible schedule and all-star packed program, to online spaces to interact with fellow attendees and exhibitors--we hope you enjoyed everything WOCNext 2020 Reimagined had to offer!
WOC NURSE WEEK 2020 WOC Nurse Week 2020 celebrated the impact WOC nurses make in the communities they serve around the world! As educators, researchers, leaders, experts, and caregivers, each WOC nurse has a unique set of skills that allow them to make a world of difference in the lives of individuals who suffer from non-healing wounds, ostomies, and urinary and fecal incontinence.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM WOC NURSE WEEK 2020:
127
new followers on Facebook
48
new followers on Instagram
20
new followers on Twitter
203
new followers on LinkedIn
WOC Nurse Week 2020 was commercially supported by a restricted educational grant from Smith+Nephew.
THE WOC NURSE WEEK PAGE ON WOCN.ORG WAS ACCESSED TIMES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
2,504
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THE WOC NURSE WEEK DIGITAL TOOLKIT WAS DOWNLOADED BY INDIVIDUALS
3,043
THE WOC NURSE WEEK DIGITAL CAMPAIGN REACHED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
180,046
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WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
PUBLICATIONS Knowledge is power and WOCN takes pride in knowing our members have access to the best educational resources in the field. WOCN continued to support the WOC practice, our members, and the community at large in 2020 with the release of updates to clinical and educational documents and resources. Here are a few of the updated publications from 2020 and where you can find them:
Guidance for Maintaining Skin Health When Utilizing Protective Masks for Prolonged Time Intervals
COVID-19 Resource Center
Guidance on Use of Ostomy DME Checklist
Document Library
Recommendations for Wound Assessment & Photo Documentation in Isolation
COVID-19 Resource Center
Did you know?
WOCN’s Document Library contains over 70 DOCUMENTS that have been researched and developed by leaders in the field of WOC nursing. As a member, you can access and download each of these digital resources for FREE—make sure you are logged into the WOCN Member Center for additional publications that are exclusively for members. The Document Library is located under the Learning Center tab on wocn.org.
JOURNAL OF WOUND, OSTOMY, AND CONTINENCE NURSING (JWOCN) 2020 was a year of continued growth for the Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JWOCN). Ranked in the Top 20 of overall nursing journals, our official journal is the preferred resource for cutting edge research and reviews of the care and management of patients with wounds, ostomies, incontinence and foot and nail care disorders. New additions to JWOCN this year included a Value of the WOC Nurse collection as well as a special COVID-19 section that spanned 3 issues, both of which provided a mixture of evidence-based research articles and clinical practice alerts to meet the professional and economic challenges members of our community have faced, and continue to face, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
WOCTalk The WOCTalk podcast channel continues to provide clinical experts, leaders, and passionate caregivers with the latest healthcare advances, industry news, and education in an easily digestible format. WOCTalk is your opportunity to learn more about advocacy, education, and research that support the practice and delivery of expert healthcare to individuals with wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. Certain episodes of WOCTalk award Contact Hours; these episodes are identified with a (*) next to the episode titles found at wocn.org/podcast.
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR PODCAST CHANNEL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
OVER
2
hosts
70
Published Episodes (NEW EPISODES PUBLISHED EVERY 2 WEEKS + BONUS INDUSTRY SUPPORTED EPISODES!)
1 BIG
NEARLY 100,000
AWARD
downloads in 69 Different Countries
TOP 10
AREAS FOR DOWNLOADS: United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, South Africa, India, Brazil
CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTER The Continuing Education Center (CEC) is the place for the latest in WOC nursing educational courses. WOCN members have free access to education courses in the CEC.
CEC
CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTER
The most viewed courses: THE MOST HIGHLY ATTENDED WEBINAR OF 2020:
“Disrupting the Vicious Cycle: Understanding and Preventing the Negative Effects of Moisture Before Incontinence Associated Dermatitis and Pressure Injury Occur”
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Management of the Patient with a High Output Fecal Diversion
2. 3.
Calciphylaxis
4.
Enhancing the Skin Barrier of the Perineal Skin
5.
It’s Just a Blister! Assessment & Diagnosis of Autoimmune Bullous Disorder
Challenges in Stoma Creation
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WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY WOCN works diligently to shape legislation that protects and strengthens the profession of WOC care. We are committed to advancing legislative activity that promotes the benefits of WOC nurse involvement related to pressure injuries, acute and chronic wounds, ostomy, and continence care. WOCN is actively engaged in state and federal public policy and advocacy efforts to help healthcare become economically viable and to promote the value of WOC nurses across all healthcare settings. Here are some of the 2020 advocacy efforts we proudly participated in:
WOCN Advocacy Priority Becomes Law The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2019, for which WOCN has long advocated for, has become law. The legislation authorizes nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants to certify home health care services for their Medicare patients. The bill was included as a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the “CARES Act” (H.R. 748), which was signed into law by President Trump in March. The CARES Act permanently authorizes physician assistants and nurse practitioners to order home healthcare services for Medicare patients, in a manner consistent with state law.
WOCN and UOAA Join to Help Assisted Living Facility Residents WOCN joined with the United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA) to create an FAQ document for patients in response to concerns that long-term care residents were being denied access to facilities because they have an ostomy. This document is intended to answer some frequently asked questions that owners or staff of assisted living facilities may have concerning people with an ostomy who wish to reside in an assisted living facility. Daily ostomy management is a simple process of toileting, an activity of daily living. People living with an ostomy should be welcomed and treated as any person seeking potential residence.
WOCN Supports Late Push for Lymphedema Treatment Act
WOCN Society Advocates for a Change in Medicare Fistula Coverage Gap
WOCN is joining with other stakeholders to encourage final passage of the Lymphedema Treatment Act before the end of 2020. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, in late 2019, which would allow the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices with manufacturers. This new drug pricing system would provide the federal government with significant cost savings. H.R. 3 proposes to use the savings to increase a number of Medicare benefits including adding vision, dental, and hearing benefits to Part B.
WOCN members have expressed a growing concern over the lack of access to supplies for patients who have nonsurgical and surgical related fistulas. These groups of patients are falling into a coverage gap that exists in post-acute, post home care with access to supplies. This issue has been noted in patients both pediatric and adult, and more information can be found in a White Paper prepared by WOCN. In an effort to close the coverage gap, WOCN has been working with other stakeholders to engage CMS in a conversation about how to change coverage policy, so patients have access to these important supplies. We are hopeful that this advocacy will result in a change in CMS coverage policy to ensure access. The Public Policy and Advocacy Coordination team is currently working on next steps for this project including direct outreach to CMS staff.
H.R. 3 would also add Medicare coverage for compression therapy of lymphedema. The language included in H.R. 3 is based on the WOCN-supported Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) and is a huge win for beneficiaries. House passage of this legislation is an important step, but is only part of the solution, as the Senate still needs to act on these provisions before they can be sent to the President. As this point, the Senate has no plans to take up H.R. 3 as they are pursuing separate legislation to address prescription drug pricing. However, by passing one chamber of Congress we are hopeful that the Lymphedema Treatment Act will be moved separately in the Senate and then sent to the President.
WOCN Society Collaborates with Other Organizations on Joint Initiatives In 2020, WOCN continued to collaborate with other stakeholder organizations on joint initiatives that support our patients and the WOC practice, including: the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders (The Alliance), the Access and Care Coalition, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), the United Ostomy Association of America, Inc. (UOAA) and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®).
VISIT WOCN.ORG/PUBLIC-POLICY-ADVOCACY FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO TAKE ACTION ON IMPORTANT ADVOCACY EFFORTS.
WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
NEW IN 2020 Three New Certification Review Courses
WOCN introduced three new Certification Review Courses. The certification review courses were updated to ensure that individuals have the clinical resources they need to prepare for the wound, ostomy, and continence certification or recertification exams. Each course is led by leaders in the WOC nursing field, and is accompanied by additional downloadable resources, including practice questions, audio files, and Wound, Ostomy Continence Certification Board (WOCNCB®) resources. These courses are presented by faculty who are leaders and educators in the WOC nursing field. Additionally, upon completion of the program, viewers can earn contact hours for their participation. WOCN members receive a discount on each of the certification review courses. Visit the Continuing Education Center to purchase the Certification Review Courses. Please note: The WOCN Society does not guarantee that any candidate taking the certification review courses will pass the exam. The successful completion of certification and recertification exams depends upon the amount of practice, knowledge, and skills of the individual candidate.
COVID-19 Resource Center On behalf of the WOCN Board of Directors, we want to express our appreciation and gratitude for all that you have done and are continuing to do to deliver care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of you are finding yourselves practicing on the front lines, in your usual role or being called to work in another staff position. WOCN applauds all our members for their contributions during this time of crisis and we continue to support our members and advocate on behalf of our practice and the patients we serve. To better support our members, WOCN has put together a list of COVID-19 resources to help you on the front lines. To view a complete list of COVID-19 related resources, visit wocn.org/COVID-19.
Introduction of The WOC Community of Opportunity™ This year, WOCN announced a modernized brand and new website during the Annual Member’s Business Meeting. The new brand and website represent the engaging resources and powerful experience that the Society offers to members and the greater healthcare community. The modernized look, feel, and sound center around a new brand promise, The WOC Community of Opportunity™, and features a refreshed logo, color palette, visual identity, and messaging platform. The rebrand was brought to life this year on a new website that is an intuitive and valuable resource of the WOC care community. To view the new WOCN website, visit wocn.org.
Interventions Post Catheter Removal (iPCaRe) Decision Support Tool Despite recent advances in continence management for adults, evidence guiding bladder management strategies following discontinuation of an indwelling urinary catheter in the acute care setting is particularly sparse. To address this gap and guide best-practice, WOCN has developed a consensus-based algorithm for acute care settings focusing on patient assessment and the selection and use of bladder management strategies after indwelling urinary catheter removal. The Interventions Post Catheter Removal (iPCaRe) Decision Support Tool will fill the gap in evidence available for first-line and WOC specialty practice nurses and guide optimal bladder management following the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter. To use the guide, visit ipcare.wocn.org.
WOCN Ostomy Education Day For the first time on Ostomy Awareness Day, we held a free online education experience to celebrate ostomy awareness, dispel myths, increase competence, and improve patient outcomes. Expert WOC nursing professionals and subject matter experts led 5 educational sessions that awarded participants 4.75 Contact Hours. If you missed WOCN Ostomy Education Day, you can still earn 4.75 Contact Hours by viewing the on-demand recording and evaluating all 5 sessions for free through the Continuing Education Center (CEC). To view the on-demand recording, visit the CEC.
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WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
WOCNext速 2021 WOCNext速 2021: A Virtual WOW Experience with the WOCN速 Society and Relias will serve as an education event for both the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses SocietyTM (WOCN速) and Relias and will join WOCNext and Wild on Wounds (WOW) event attendees together for one BIG event! WOCNext 2021 is an online experiential event featuring education, networking, and activities for WOC care professionals. Our sessions will span the trending healthcare themes of Wellness, Symptom Science, Quality, and Clinical Care Innovations and cover topics related to relevant wound, ostomy, continence, foot and nail care, and professional practice education.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WOCNext 2021: THURSDAY, JUNE 24 - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 AND JOIN US FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME OR OFFICE TO EXPERIENCE:
IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
HIGHLY FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS
ENGAGING EXHIBITORS & SPEAKERS
ENERGETIC INCLUSIVE NETWORKING PRESENTATION FORMATS OPPORTUNITIES
VISIT WOCNEXT.ORG TO LEARN MORE.
WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
FUND THE FUTURE Due to the ever-growing need for WOC nurses across the continuum of care, WOCN continued to showcase the importance of the “Fund the Future” campaign, which aims to raise funds to provide financial support to nurture future WOC nurses as they seek additional education to grow their knowledge and advance their careers. By “funding the future”, WOCN is able to create and grow a lasting network of certified WOC nurses, generate a heightened awareness of the WOC specialty and further advance the quality of life for the patients that we serve.
LEARN MORE OR DONATE BY VISITING FOUNDATION.WOCN.ORG.
Thank you to the following individuals who contributed to our Fund the Future campaign in 2020*: Julie Ahrendt
Nancy Kirchner
Nancy Sujeta
Marianne Bradley
Jeanie Kramer
Jeanne Terefenko
Eileen Carter
Melissa Lewis
Elizabeth Tierney
Suzanne Fox
Susan Lloyd
Nancy Vita
Mary Green
Catherine McNamara
Tracy Whitcomb
Claude Guillory
Judith Panico
Leslie Wilson
Christa Heinsler
Anita Rowe
Medela
Mary-Kathryn Hughes
June Smith
Nu-Hope Laboratories, Inc.
Thank you to Coloplast for helping to “Fund the Future” by supporting the preparation of future WOC nurses through an unrestricted educational grant.
*This list of donors is not all encompassing and only includes individuals who chose to be acknowledged and made contributions before December 7, 2020. Additional donors who contributed after this date will be included in the WOCN Society’s Year in Review 2021.
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WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
Coming in 2021 CORE CURRICULUM BOOKS We’re working to update our WOC Core Curriculum Books. The 2nd edition is scheduled to be released in Spring 2021. Our editors have been hard at work to bring you the most up-to-date information and guidance in wound, ostomy, and continence management.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTER MAKEOVER We’re working on creating a new look and feel for the Continuing Education Center (CEC). The CEC will have a modernized look and feel to reflect the WOCN rebrand and new website.
EMPOWERMENT CENTER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses are selfless individuals. From their everyday routines to their advanced understanding of compassion, these professionals are strong, smart, and independent—and as the professional organization for WOC nurses, it is WOCN’s job to ensure those qualities are consistently supported, nurtured, and revitalized. That’s why we’re working on launching a brand-new emPOWERed Program! The emPOWERed Program is designed to empower the WOC nurse professionally and personally with multiple education offerings throughout the year. Additionally, we’ll be launching an emPOWERment Center on wocn.org that will serve as a one-stop destination featuring insightful resources designed for your head, heart, and hands. Need something to energize your mind? Something good for your heart and soul? How about something to motivate your professional or personal growth? We’ve got you covered! Exciting details coming in early 2021!
NEW EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Education is essential and knowledge is power. We’re working to develop a variety of additional online educational opportunities that provide relevant, on-the-job instructions based on current best practices to meet the growing needs of our community.
WOCN SOCIETY 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
Thank You
TO OUR 2020 CORPORATE MEMBERS! 11 Health & Technology LLC 3M + KCI Accora Inc, Acell Inc. Alliance Labs (Enemeez®/Enemeez Plus®) Alpha Bedding LLC, DBA Alpha Tekniko Amniox Medical Arjo Austin Medical Products, Inc. Balmex AdultAdvantage BD UCC Better Living Now, Inc. Birchwood Laboratories, Inc. Bruin Biometrics, LLC BSN/Medical/Essity Byram Healthcare Calmoseptine, Inc. Cardinal Health Casco Manufacturing Solutions, Inc Coloplast Comfort Medical Conni USA/Prism Health Services ConvaTec Inc. Cottons Brands Pty Ltd Cure Medical Dabir Surfaces DermaRite Industries LLC Domtar Personal Care Edgepark Medical Supplies EHOB EO2 Concepts® Encompass Group, LLC Ethos Therapy Solution Freedom Medical, Inc Genairex (Securi-T USA Ostomy & PECO Medical Urologicals) Gsquared Medical LLC Heartmann, USA, Inc. HDIS, Inc. Healogics Healthy.io Hillrom Hollister Incorporated
HoverTech International Integra LifeSciences KCI, an Acelity Company LINET Americas Marlen Mfg & Devel. Group Medela LLC medi USA Medical Monks Medline Industries, Inc. Milliken Healthcare Products, LLC MiMedx Molnlycke Health Care NB Products, Inc Nu-Hope Laboratories, Inc. Ostomy Clinic of Inland Empire Ostoform The Parthenon Company, Inc. Puracyn Plus Rx (Innovacyn) UI Medical LLC / QuickChange Safe n Simple Shield Healthcare, Inc. SIGVARIS Silver Lining Apparel Simply Beautiful Store Sizewise Smith+Nephew Southwest Technologies Stealth Belt Inc Stomacloak Stomagienics, Inc Stratus Pharmaceuticals Stryker Medical TG Eakin Ltd Torbot Group, Inc. Trio Healthcare TZMO USA, Inc. Urgo Medical North America, LLC VATA, Inc. Vive Wear Walgreen Health Solutions WCEI powered by Relias
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2021 WISHING YOU A
Happy and Healthy NEW YEAR!