The Certified Wound/Ostomy/Continence (CWOC) Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides quality, cost-effective management of a caseload of outpatients, in the Colorado Region who have complex wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. Upon referral the CWOC NP collaborates with physicians and other healthcare providers, when needed. The CWOC NP assesses and formulates the plan of care. The CWOC NP, implements and continually reevaluates patient plan of care. The CWOC NP provides expert consultation, coordination of services and education for patients and families and the healthcare team to achieve optimal patient care in the and adequate staff knowledge of wound and ostomy care. The major clinical focus of this position varies to include patient in the outpatient department and collaboration with other healthcare providers in the hospital, home care, and long-term care as needed.

• Wound, Ostomy, Continence Care: The CWOC NP collaborates with hospital, outpatient chronic wound clinics, home health/hospice in multiple locations throughout the region. Assesses, examines, counsels, and determines plan of care for prevention and healing of wounds, ostomy and continence care. Determines and orders appropriate topical products, compression therapy, sharp debridement, referrals to specialty providers, labs and x-rays and protocols based on established KPCO and WOCN Societys standards of care within scope of practice. Organizes and forms the plan of care for patients ostomy care and rehabilitation through assessment, examination, pre-and post-operative teaching, counseling and recommending treatment and product use. Acts as an expert resource for staff and utilizes knowledge in clinical areas of practice.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other healthcare providers in hospital, clinic, home health/hospice and skilled nursing facilities regarding wound, ostomy, and continence management for individual patients; recommends plan of care to promote healing, contain drainage, and promote skin integrity.
• Wound and Ostomy Care Education and Consultation: Consults with contracted home health agencies, Kaiser Permanente utilization reviewer, and primary care clinicians regarding appropriate clinical wound, ostomy and continence care and utilization for home care and skilled nursing facility patients. Provides formal education of nursing, medical, and other healthcare staff regarding wound and ostomy management. Actively participates/leads committees/task forces as needed. Educates team on financial implications of supply and equipment usage. Develops state-of-the-art protocols, staff and patient written resources in collaboration with regional other KP CWOC NPs and CWOC nurses.
• Consults with local outpatient materials management, pharmacy, reception staff regarding issues related to the delivery of effective wound/ostomy/continence care.
• Quality Management/Utilization: Participates in quality management/improvement activities in the CO Region as appropriate, including occurrence reporting, focused studies, process and outcome measurement and continuous quality improvement projects. Consults with DME, Materials Management regarding optimum use of supplies and equipment. Participates as a member of the CWOC NP/Nurse team, including team meeting and case conferences. Supports quality management plans at the UBT level. Performs other duties as assigned.