Our WOC nurse cares for patients with colostomies, conventional and continent ileostomies, urostomies, and fistulas. While the WOC nurse does not function as a patient’s primary nurse, her goal is to help ensure a smooth recovery and get you back to your normal daily life as quickly as possible. Glacial Ridge Health System’s WOCN is specially trained and devoted to helping patients overcome initial anxiety or insecurity they may feel.
Glacial Ridge Health System’s WOCN is board certified in wound, ostomy, and continence care. She stays up-to-date on the latest equipment and treatment programs, and she quickly makes such innovations available to patients.
We encourage you to consult your doctor or WOC nurse for any wound, ostomy, or continence changes. It is important to have periodic check-ups to ensure that you are receiving the best possible care and have the most comfortable and latest advances in supplies for optimal results.
Insurance Coverage
Many medical insurers cover outpatient wound, ostomy, and continence nursing services. Check with your insurer to find out about your specific coverage.
Certified Wound Care Nurse Helped Save My Foot
James W., Cyrus, MN
My story starts with orthopedic surgery to fuse my right heel at the University of MN Health Clinic in Minneapolis. Kara Mrnak, RN and CWOCN at Glacial Ridge Hospital, became involved after the second operation and placed a wound VAC on my open wound. Kara’s care along with my surgeons helped me keep my foot. Nurse Kara Mrnak did a great job considering she couldn’t observe the wound standing next to the surgeon. Thank you, Kara!
Wound Care
To relieve pain and speed healing, our nurse assists the medical staff in the development of a comprehensive care plan that includes evaluation and treatment of existing or reoccurring wounds, as well as education about how to prevent future wounds.
Assessment of origination factors, wound status, and nutritional status
Recommendations regarding correction of factors causing the wound
Compression therapy for patients with venous ulcers
Recommendations for basic nutritional support for wound healing
Patient, family, and caregiver education
Removal of dead tissue
Percutaneous tube management including conversion and stabilization innovations available to patients.
Ostomy (Urinary or Fecal Diversion)
We help patients learn to lead very normal lives with temporary and permanent ostomies of all kinds.
Pre-operative counseling
Outpatient consultation, exams, and services with ostomy patients
Assessment of stomal function, pouching system, stomal and peristomal skin status, and patient’s self-care and adaptation status
Recommendations regarding ostomy care/management, peristomal skin care, and prevention/management of peristomal/stomal complications
Patients and family education for incorporation of ostomy into lifestyle/daily living
Supportive counseling to support adaptation
Continence Care
We can help patients with skin care and odor management by helping to identify the best collection or absorption device and skin care products and will instruct patients in their proper use.
Nursing assessment of urinary or fecal incontinence
Dietary and fluid management
Environmental and clothing modifications
Bladder retraining programs
Instruction in scheduled voiding
Instruction in pelvic muscle exercises
Instruction in clean intermittent catheterization
Recommendations regarding containment and/or absorptive products and skin care
Beginning January 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are requiring hospitals and health systems to post their “current, standard charges.”
Hospital charges are the amount a hospital bills an insurer for a service. For most patients, hospitals are reimbursed at a level well below charges. Patients covered by commercial insurance products have negotiated rates with hospitals. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid programs have hospital reimbursement rates determined by federal and state governments.
Hospital charges may include bundled procedures, personnel, services and supplies. An example would be room rates that include the space, equipment, nursing personnel and supplies.
When a patient has the opportunity to shop for medical services, he or she should contact his or her own insurance carrier to understand which costs will be covered and which will be the patient’s responsibility.
Patients should contact the hospital directly for any further details.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are requiring hospitals and health systems to post their “current, standard charges.”
Hospital charges are the amount a hospital bills an insurer for a service. For most patients, hospitals are reimbursed at a level well below charges. Patients covered by commercial insurance products have negotiated rates with hospitals. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid programs have hospital reimbursement rates determined by federal and state governments.
Hospital charges may include bundled procedures, personnel, services and supplies. An example would be room rates that include the space, equipment, nursing personnel and supplies.
When a patient has the opportunity to shop for medical services, he or she should contact his or her own insurance carrier to understand which costs will be covered and which will be the patient’s responsibility.
Patients should contact the hospital directly for any further details.
