Bonnie Schmidt, ConvaTec, presented products new and improved, also literature and handouts, leaving every visitor the confidence ostomates are truly being cared for.
Barbara Dunstan and Zerlina Zamniuk displayed their Ostomy undies for women with any type of Ostomy. Both are presently working on men's undergarments. There will be plenty of notice when this line is up and running. Some ladies are now making use of theirs and some find they are already being paneled and kept under control!
The Training Session Manual I found to be self-explanatory. The "Visitor's Record Card" (blue form) recording the patient information. The "Visitor Contact Information" card (yellow), visitor's name and phone number left with patient at the end of a visit. "Chapter Meeting Schedule" (located on the reverse side of the card) providing patient with SMD address and monthly meetings and pamphlets, last but not least, benefiting the patient.
Two (2) groups were formed according to their surgeries. After stating their name, year of surgery and number of years visiting, everyone settled down to serious business, most having encountered good visits be it hospital/home visits or phone calls. As one visitor expressed: "As ostomates get ‘younger' ostomates are more opinionated and stubborn" but as pointed out, to have undergoing or undergone Ostomy surgery, giving back their health and freedom is a small price to pay for a new beginning in life.
Odour was another concern. A discussion was held with participants giving their ideas combating this problem.
Then came the sexual issues. Quite a difference of opinions here! Some agreed, being up front with their partner before surgery was the best thing to do. Being interested in someone, not saying anything, until the association had reached that point was the best thing to do.
Generally it was pointed out most visits went pretty well. Discussions were then concluded.
Brock Master's "Reach for the Sky" DVD was more than informative - giving the ostomate definite hope his/her life will be restored.
Group discussion by Elaine Beyer ET, were conducted with both groups after lunch. Each group discussed their ideas, recommendations in some cases coming to the same conclusion.
Lorrie Pismenny President, outlined reasons of attending and the happenings held in Chapter Meetings. Explanation of the "Role of the Visitor" and importance of communicating with visitor and patient, concluded this part of the program.
Handouts including newsletters, articles and tear off sheets were available to each visitor. Thank you Bonnie Schmidt, ConvaTec Representative, for providing lunch.
Nine (9) attended the re-certification training session. Not a bad number. Of the nine (9) re-certified visitors only one (1) made mention not wanting the WOA to publish their name in the Newsletter after a visit was made.
I believe that much was accomplished! Visitors seemed reluctant to leave even though the session concluded earlier than the allotted time.
The fall session will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2007, in SMD Building, Rms 202 and 203, 825 Sherbrook St., which is where we hold our chapter meetings. Parking will be available in the SMD parking lot as usual.
All visitors who were last re-certified in 2004 or prior to 2004 are requested to take part. Further details will be found in the September issue of Inside Out.
