Fifteen healthcare professionals expand wound care knowledge to benefit patients

Fifteen healthcare clinicians in Oklahoma were beneficiaries of training from the Wound Care Education Institute by OnCourse Learning in June as part of a national quality care improvement program.
The Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) provided scholarships for a group of professionals to attend wound care training June 25-29 in Oklahoma City thanks to funding from the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN), part of the American Hospital Association’s Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET).
“Our live classroom training is an interactive, engaging way for clinicians to gain knowledge that will positively impact the lives of their patients,” said WCEI co-founder Nancy Morgan, BSN, MBA, RN, WOC, DWC, OMS. “Healthcare professionals who take part in our Skin and Wound Management course study to prepare for the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy’s Wound Care Certified credential and become nationally recognized wound care experts.”
The HIIN funding helps hospitals continue progress toward the national Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ goals of reducing inpatient harm by 20% and readmission rates by 12% by 2019. One of the CMS’ 12 areas of focus is pressure injuries, which wound care clinicians treat and work to prevent.
Oklahoma achievements
Oklahoma is one of 35 states taking part in the HIIN program to focus on improving care for patients across the country.
“It has always been our goal to increase the capacity of care providers in our hospitals,” said Patrice Greenawalt, RN, MS, who serves as the OHA Clinical Initiatives Manager. “Wounds are a serious issue for many patients. This training allows patients to receive high-level wound care in their local hospitals.”
“OHA is excited to be able to offer this education to HIIN participants,” Greenawalt said. “We are proud to recognize the following individuals committed to improving patient care.”
* Jessica Rathbun, WCC (Cleveland Area Hospital, Cleveland)
* Anita Thomas (Creek Nation Community Hospital, Okemah)
* Brooklyn Delue (Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital, Tahlequah)
* Tonya Wann, WCC (Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center, Poteau)
* Brenda Rainey (Hillcrest Hospital, Cushing)
* Debbie Clark (Newman Memorial Hospital, Shattuck)
* Stephanie Paine, WCC (Northeastern Medical Center, Tahlequah)
* Allison Foster, WCC (Okeene Municipal Hospital, Okeene)
* Christine DeFontes, WCC (OSU Medical Center, Tulsa)
* Gicela Anabel Rodriguez, WCC (OU Medicine, Oklahoma City)
* Susan Wilkins (Pauls Valley General Hospital, Pauls Valley)
* Angela Brand, WCC (Perry Memorial Hospital, Perry)
* Lesley Wadley (The Physicians’ Hospital in Anadarko, Anadarko)
* George Spriggs (Southwestern Medical Center, Lawton)
* John Karlin, WCC (Weatherford Regional Hospital, Weatherford)
WCEI by OnCourse Learning is the leading national educational center of excellence for wound care and ostomy education. WCEI’s mission is to develop multidisciplinary wound care professionals by offering training programs based on current standards of care and evidence-based research. WCEI has trained thousands of wound care physicians, therapists, nurses and sales and marketing professionals through webinars, seminars and the Wild on Wounds (WOW) national conference.