Access to Care for Ostomates

Access to care is a major problem for wound and ostomy patients. Unfortunately, the focus today is on wound care. There is inadequate access to care for ostomy patients that has been documented by the UOAA (United Ostomy Association of America) and the WOCN (Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse's Society).

There are approximately 6000 certified ostomy nurses through WOCN and about 1100 Ostomy Management Specialists in the US leading to a major deficit in providing ostomy care. There are not enough Ostomy specialists to provide specialized care to our growing Ostomy populace (UOAA 2021). According to the Australian Ostomy Association there are approximately 3 million ostomates worldwide and the United Ostomy Association estimates more than 500,000-800,000 people in the US who have stomas.

Who Are We And What Can We Expect?
What should a potential ostomate expect during the preoperative phase, after surgery during the postoperative phase and during the lifespan for management of the ostomy? The UOAA Ostomy Continent Diversion Patient Bill of Rights sets forth these rights. It is important for you to ask for proper care from proper individuals. Would you choose to buy specialized meat cuts from the vegetable clerk or from the butcher?

I will provide information on ostomy resources for outpatients and inpatients in the Sacramento and surrounding area. Sometimes access to care is a lack of communication between providers and recipients of care. You can help close this communication gap by getting information on problems you are experiencing with access to care such as:

how and who do you contact if you have problems while in the hospital or at home;

how often must you call an agency/clinic before someone returns your call;

are services available after 3PM/weekends or holidays;

can you self refer or does it require a MD referral to an outpatient clinic;

and how long should you wait for a response from the provider of services (clinic or MD office)?

You can help yourself and other ostomates by asking the following questions:

Have you discussed concerns about your stoma with the providers (certified ostomy nurse/Md)?

Did you receive written, video and/or verbal instructions on care and resources from inpatient and/or outpatient providers?

Are you receiving care from a certified wound/ostomy nurse while in an inpatient and/or an outpatient facility?

Have you or significant others received the Patient's Bill of Rights (PBOR) for Ostomy Patients?

Did you ask your physician for a CERTIFIED Ostomy Nurse for care while in the hospital, in home health, or in SNF?

Do you have a copy of the Patient Bill of Rights for ostomy patients?

I will continue to provide information to help you access right care. Please call (916) 838-5928 to allow me to help you access care and answer questions about the access to care for ostomy patients. Remember you must ask for a CERTIFIED Ostomy Nurse or Wound Nurse - not for just an ostomy or wound nurse as there is a BIG difference.
Joyce Moss RN, BSN, MNM, MSc Wound Healing & Tissue Repair, CWS-Retired, CWCN,COCN