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We offer a full
line of innovative, high quality medical supplies and
product-related services for ostomy care, skin care and
advanced wound care.
| Finding the
right type of ostomy supplies is an essential element for
living well with an ostomy. After surgery you leave the
hospital wearing a particular brand of ostomy equipment.
Many people stay with their initial brand and live happily.
However, there is more than one manufacturer of ostomy
supplies, such as Hollister, Coloplast, and the like, as well as more than one way to purchase them.
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| Your WOC (ET) nurse is a good source of information for new
products and for supplier recommendations. |
Your choice of
both product type and place of purchase is limited only by
your personal requirements, and in some cases, by your type
of medical insurance. Medicare and many HMOs will impose
certain restrictions on the purchase of ostomy supplies. If
you are on Medicare, an important consideration in choosing
a supplier is whether they accept Medicare assignment. We
will check with your insurance carrier to determine the
details of your insurance.
Selection
Considerations, Problems, and Customized Options
Here are some
tips to remember when choosing your type of ostomy supplies:
Always consult
with your ostomy nurse first for information and
recommendations for your particular situation.
Remember that every person is different and you need to find
what works best for you. You should feel free to experiment
with different manufacturers of the same product or
different types of products.
How to Handle
Problems
Problems with
your pouching systems are generally split into two
categories:
Problem:
Defective product - e.g., pinholes or tears in pouch
material, broken tail clips, damaged flanges/wafers.
Solution:
Contact us to request either a refund and/or a replacement
product. Write down the lot numbers from the box and return
it for new products.
Problem:
Product Incompatibility - e.g., an allergy to the tape
or materials in the wafer or pouch, leakage due to the wafer
not sticking or developing after weight change, etc.
Solution:
Contact your ostomy nurse for trouble-shooting the exact
cause, and for finding a better system. If you find you've
recently purchased a large amount of a particular product
that is no longer appropriate for you, contact the place of
purchase for their policies on exchanges or credit.
They often will also suggest alternative products to try on
a no obligation basis.
Custom-Fitted
Pouching Systems
It is sometimes
necessary for individuals to have ostomy products (usually
the wafer) custom-fitted for their particular situation. Ask
your ostomy nurse for recommendations.
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