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From left: Leslie McKinney, Jennefer Trowers-Smith, Diane Bryant and Ruthanne Vargas
On Jan. 9, 30 BWH nurses gathered on Tower 15 for a special presentation by representatives from the Ostomy Association of Boston (OAB), arranged by Certified Wound, Ostomy Continence (CWOC) Clinical Nurse Specialists Diane Bryant, RN, Ilene Fleischer, RN, Beth Melanson, RN, and Mary Willis, RN, MS.
The OAB provides support for people living with an ostomy-an opening surgically created for individuals who need to wear a pouch to collect waste-through education, emotional support and a visitor program that serves about 200 patients each year.
OAB representative Paul Erickson, who lives with an ostomy, spoke about the importance of the visitor program, which matches trained volunteers who have an ostomy with individuals before or after ostomy surgery.
"The visit is key," said Erickson. "A lot of patients are nervous, and their visitors assure them that there is life after receiving an ostomy."
Tower 15AB Nurse Director Jill Danese, RN, shared how one of her patients was put at ease by receiving such a visit.
"Her outlook totally changed," she said. "It made such a difference."