[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 77 (Friday, June 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    WELCOME TO THE 26TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE WOUND, OSTOMY, AND 
                       CONTINENCE NURSES SOCIETY

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 17, 1994

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, the Third District of Maryland is proud to 
welcome the 26th annual conference of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence 
Nurses [WOCN] Society to the Baltimore Convention Center on June 19-23. 
The theme for the conference is ``Positioning for Change--Where Do We 
Go From Here?''
  WOCN is a professional association of 3,000 registered nurses who 
specialize in the care of patients with wounds, ostomies, and 
incontinence. The WOCN membership consists primarily of ET nurses, 
formerly known as enterostomal therapists [ET's]. ET nurses 
traditionally specialized in the care of patients with ostomies; 
however, as the needs increased for specialists in managing wounds and 
related skin conditions, ET nurses incorporated wound care into their 
practice. ET nurses have also extended their practice into the area of 
continence care, including prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and 
management.
  In addition to these ET nurses, the WOCN membership consists of 
registered nurses who specialize in only wound or continence care. The 
WOCN nurse is an integral part of the health care system in providing 
cost-effective care to their patients.
  Participants in the conference will include the WOCN membership, 
allied health care professionals, and medical and pharmaceutical 
manufacturers. The conference provides an opportunity for the 
participants to become more knowledgeable of the practice of the nurse 
who specializes in the care of patients suffering from wounds, 
ostomies, or incontinence. The conference aims to identify the current 
issues and trends that impact professional practice, and to provide a 
forum in which the participants can discuss such clinical and 
professional issues. The conference also seeks to provide resources to 
assist participants in marketing their practice, as well as to 
recognize available collaborative practice opportunities in various 
healthcare settings.
  The Clinton administration will be represented at the conference by 
Ms. Kathleen Hastings, consultant to the Surgeon General on health care 
reform. Ms. Hastings will deliver the conference's keynote address at 
the opening session on June 20 at 9 a.m.
  I am pleased and honored that WOCN has chosen the fine city of 
Baltimore to host their conference. I sincerely hope my colleagues will 
join me in wishing WOCN success with their event.

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