Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care
With over 30 years of experience, we have helped local Hawaii patients.
Shortly after becoming a staff nurse at Kuakini Medical Center, Anne realized her passion to help patients who had recently undergone a bowel or bladder diversion, however, it was not until 1989 that her dream to become an Enteral Therapy Nurse evolved while at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. She received her training at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and returned home to develop an ostomy, wound, and continence program. After completing the Emory Program she also became certified in all three specialties and has maintained her certification since 1989. Over the years she advanced pediatric ostomy and wound care and also consulted at Shriners Hospital for Children to support the Tri-Agency Myelodysplagia Program and presently serves as a consultant there, assisting children with neurogenic bowel and bladder conditions as well as wound care.
Having provided supported children with special needs for over 35 years, she continues to assist these children with their internal feedings/devices, skincare, urinary and bowel issues, and developmental issues. In 2000 her dream of having an event for children with bowel and bladder conditions came to fruition as she developed the annual Special Buddy Connection Camp for teens with bowel and bladder disorders. She recognized the additional challenges faced by these adolescents with these conditions and sought to have them network, learn about their conditions, and understand the importance of adhering to their medical plan of care.
As the medical center expanded to include the OBGYN Oncology program she also tended to the needs of women and bowel and bladder diversions as well as wound care. She realized that not only did patients need education about their conditions, but nurses as well. She and Piilani Kinimaka (her mentor) were the co-founders of the E.T. Nurses of Hawaii, which has evolved into the Hawaii Association for Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care. She is currently the Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Education Committee for the association. She strives to educate nurses about their specialty such that their conferences have grown to have over 200 nurses.
As a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, she has always been involved with children with special needs and continues to provide consultative, treatment, and educational services for the following:
Children with behavioral bowel and bladder disturbances, such as constipation, encopresis (exhibited by constipation and stool withholding behavior), recurrent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence.
Children with complex developmental or traumatic neurological bladder & bowel problems, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, exstrophy, spinal cord injury, imperforate anus, and others.
She strongly believes in empowering patients and families to learn to care for their condition whether it is wound or ostomy care, gastrostomy/enteral tube care, tracheostomy care, management of suprapubic catheters or other enteral tubes. She continues to support medically fragile children in the community especially as they transition into adulthood.
Professionally she is active with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Hawaii Chapter as the Treasurer and Chair of the Education committee. She is one of the co-founders of Hawaii Association for Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care and currently the treasurer and co-chair of the education committee.
HI-WOCS Values
HI-WOCS is committed to ensure that each patient and their family are offered a comprehensive and individualized, wound, ostomy and continence service. A holistic healing environment is created through the provision of education, advocacy and service to patients of all ages and abilities. A multidisciplinary approach is valued to optimize the physical, psychosocial well being of patients such that they are achieving their highest potential.
HI-WOCS values:
- Provision of quality care
- Compassionate care
- Professionalism
- Excellence in nursing care
- Coordination of care of all ages – neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric.
HI-WOCS is devoted to provide services which optimize the care and quality of life of each individual we touch.
Is to offer our patients a comprehensive approach to wound, ostomy and continence care such that they will achieve the best outcomes.
HI-WOCS Values
HI-WOCS is committed to ensure that each patient and their family are offered a comprehensive and individualized, wound, ostomy and continence service. A holistic healing environment is created through the provision of education, advocacy and service to patients of all ages and abilities. A multidisciplinary approach is valued to optimize the physical, psychosocial well being of patients such that they are achieving their highest potential.
HI-WOCS values:
- Provision of quality care
- Compassionate care
- Professionalism
- Excellence in nursing care
- Coordination of care of all ages – neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric.
HI-WOCS is devoted to provide services which optimize the care and quality of life of each individual we touch.
Is to offer our patients a comprehensive approach to wound, ostomy and continence care such that they will achieve the best outcomes.
HI-WOCS is built on a strong belief in treating the “entire” person. Emotional support as people deal with a bowel and bladder condition is very important. With the input of patients (adult and a parent with a child afflicted with a bowel condition) Anne coordinated plans to start a support group for individuals (adult and pediatric) to learn more about their conditions and provide them the opportunity to network with others. Starting with a group of 15 to 20 people in late 2014, the group has grown to having an attendance of 30 to 40 members at monthly meetings. This group also created their name, “Hawaii Bowel, Ostomy Bladder Support Connect” and has helped many to realize “they are not alone” and ideas are frequently shared as to how to manage their conditions to include appliances/supplies; dietary issues; clothing and importance of returning to activities that were part of their lifestyle in a safe way. Over time many friendships have developed and the group has grown such that members call themselves the “BOBS Ohana.”
Testimonials
In 2016 our son was born with VACTERL. I had no idea what to do, or where to turn. I felt alone and was completely overwhelmed with all my post operative duties: catheters, wound care, colostomy bags, stomas, medications, diaper rash like I had never seen before……the list goes on and on. Anne was my angel, my saving grace, and shoulder to lean on. She educated me and supported me through some of my most difficult times as a new mother of a child with special medical needs. Anne’s knowledge is unsurpassed, and her dedication and commitment to her patients is what makes her truly amazing as a healthcare specialist.
In 2016 our son was born with VACTERL. I had no idea what to do, or where to turn. I felt alone and was completely overwhelmed with all my post operative duties: catheters, wound care, colostomy bags, stomas, medications, diaper rash like I had never seen before……the list goes on and on. Anne was my angel, my saving grace, and shoulder to lean on. She educated me and supported me through some of my most difficult times as a new mother of a child with special medical needs. Anne’s knowledge is unsurpassed, and her dedication and commitment to her patients is what makes her truly amazing as a healthcare specialist.
I was sent to see Anne at Hawaii Wound, Ostomy & Continence Services and over a six-month period, it finally healed. While under her care I was able to get another pair of compression wraps to use over both legs (thigh and lower legs). This is the second time Hawaii Wound, Ostomy & Continence Services has “helped me out of the hole”. [popup_anything id=”1864″]