The wound care nurses collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, physical therapists, dieticians, social workers, and other members of the health care team to develop and implement a well-balanced and comprehensive plan of care for wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) patients.

Assessment and treatment of wound and ostomies are provided by nurses. Outpatient appointments are physician-ordered. Outpatient Wound Care Services is located in the Rehabilitation Services department on the lower level of McDonough District Hospital.

What is a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse?
A Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse is a trained professional who provides treatment and educational services to patients with the following conditions:

• Leg/foot ulcers
• Pressure ulcers                                                      
• Draining Wounds
• Fistula management
• Colostomies
• Pouching problems
• Complex treatment modalities
• Skin breakdown
• Surgical incisions
• Traumatic wounds
• Ileostomies
• Urinary Diversions
• Drainage tubes/feeding tubes
• Chemical cauterization
• Topical therapies                                             
  

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses are trained to:

• Treat skin problems due to pressure ulcers and poor circulation.
• Provide preventative education and measures against pressure ulcers.
• Treat skin problems related to diversion of bowel and bladder.
• Provide pre-operative ostomy education/marking.
• Post-operative ostomy patient teaching to achieve the highest level of self-care possible.
• Select collection devices for urine/fecal incontinence.
• Set up and help manage complex treatment modalities

For more information about wound, ostomy, or continence care at MDH or to schedule an outpatient appointment, call Carolyn Grove RN, BSN, CWOCN, at (309) 836-1634 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .