HI EVERYONE, Hope this finds you well. As I sit here on “house arrest” as I call it, I was thinking I had to let everyone know that we have to cancel April’s support group meeting. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for those who are new ostomates, and not totally comfortable with their ostomy, or those who may be concerned that they wont be able to get their supplies during this uncertain time. We want you to know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! Please know that we are still here for you for any questions or concerns. I am going to list the phone numbers of people that you can call if you need to talk to someone. All of us on the board are available and the help line will still be checked everyday in the morning. If there is a particular person that you have connected with and their phone number is not listed, please let me know and I will call them and make the connection for you. I am also going to pass along some information from the UOAA (United Ostomy Association of America-otherwise known as the “mother ship”) about getting supplies. PHONE NUMBERS THAT YOU CAN CALL: 1) The help line: (303) 377-4878 2) Eileen Goldberg (President) 303-489-0636 3) Tracey Sloan (Secretary)-720-334-9220 4) Sam Swears (VP) -303-902-6984 5) Jay Boscoe (Treasurer) – 303-771-7107 6) Maureen Williams (board member)-303-399-9904 7) John Vasu (board member)-720-297-6410 8) Patty Smith (board member)-720-301-7489 9) Tara Steckler-certified visitor- 720-201-9241 10)Heidi Skiba-certified visitor-303-895-9793 11)James Kroner-certified visitor- 303-960-5197 12)Shirley Lambert-certified visitor-303-530-2506 If you have been through the certified training program and want to be added to this list, please let me know. INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPLIES The UOAA (United Ostomy Association of America -otherwise known as “the mother ship”) has kept in contact with me almost daily. Here is the most recent article that was sent to me. Please note that the UOAA stays in close contact with all of the suppliers and product companies. We have been reassured that there is not any problems getting supplies, I have also been in constant contact with our representatives from the various ostomy product companies.
If you have any problems: 1)First read following information from your specific company listed below. 2)Call your supplier 3)Call me @ 303-489-0636 and I will call our representative with the company and have them contact you. PLEASE START WITH STEP ONE. Updated: 3/24/20 Here are the statements from ostomy manufactures The coronavirus is spreading around the world and some in the ostomy community are concerned if it will affect their access to ostomy supplies. UOAA reached out to the major ostomy manufacturers to see if the outbreak is currently impacting their production or supply chain. As of March 4, 2020 none of the manufacturers are currently reporting any issues in their operations as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Also of note is that we are not aware of any ostomy products that are made in the Wuhan area of China where current quarantines are in place. As with any natural disaster personal preparation is key and there are many steps you can take now to be prepared for any unexpected impact in your life or community. For those who become ill or have a compromised immune system, always contact your physician with any concerns. If you are on Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) and become ill it covers a test to see if you have Coronavirus. For frequently asked questions and facts about this virus follow updates from the CDC on the latest COVID-19 guidelines. regarding the coronavirus and their supply production as of March 4, 2020. If the situation changes these statements will be updated. Hollister Incorporated Statement on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus In response to the global health emergency concerning the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Hollister Incorporated has taken steps to protect our Associates, and seeks to ensure that our customers experience no disruption to the supply of their products. Hollister is diligently cooperating with our suppliers across the globe to identify any potential impacts the coronavirus (COVID-19) may have on our suppliers as well as our own operations. At this time, based on the information received to date, we do not anticipate an impact to our ability to supply or to our other business operations. Hollister Incorporated continues to monitor this public health threat and considers the guidance provided by the World Health Organization, the US and European Centers for Disease Control and other sources in managing our overall ongoing response to this public health emergency. We reassure you that we are taking appropriate measures to help ensure our customers, our Associates and our operations are cared for during this critical time. We continue to monitor the situation closely. For additional inquiries, please contact corporate.communications@hollister.com. 3/24/20 Secure Start Services A Message from the Hollister Incorporated Family – COVID-19 Coloplast Statement As the Coronavirus continues to spread, Coloplast is actively monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautions to keep our employees, customers and partners safe. Our priorities are clear. First, we will comply with and support whatever guidelines are put in place by local and global healthcare authorities. We will monitor this on an ongoing basis both locally and at our global headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, and we have implemented many initiatives to prevent and contain the spread of the virus. Second, we will continue to serve you through this difficult period. We continue to engage with our customers, and safely manufacture and distribute our products. Currently, the Coronavirus is not impacting our ability to about the initiatives that we have put in place locally and globally, and for updates, please visit our website: https://www.coloplast.us/landing-pages/covid19/ We are doing our utmost to protect our employees while also continuing to serve you. Our local phone lines remain open, however, we ask for your patience and understanding if things take a little longer than normal. Thank you, Coloplast ConvaTec Statement At ConvaTec, we understand that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation is impacting everyone. We’re doing our part to be socially responsible while still ensuring that our customers can contact us and receive the support they need. To keep employees and customers safe, we’ve adjusted our work arrangements, including work from home where possible, to maintain social distancing. As always, our me+ team of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Certified Nurses and product specialists are available, by phone or email, to answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our ConvaTec me+™ Support Team at 1-800-422-8811 (M-F, 8:30AM – 7:00 PM Eastern Time) or email cic@convatec.com. ConvaTec Ostomy Care Global Impact Our Ostomy products, whether produced by ConvaTec or in partnership with outsourced partners, are not manufactured in countries with high levels of reported cases of Coronavirus, this includes China. The situation is changing daily and therefore, ConvaTec has a dedicated team tasked with continually reviewing the situation, maintaining close collaboration with our suppliers and logistics partners, and communicating changes as the situation evolves. Nu-Hope Statement It is our recommendation that ostomates keep at least 1 box of spare pouches at all times. (This recommendation is independent of the COVID-19 outbreak). We do not recommend stockpiling supplies as this will stress the supply chain and likely cause delays and disruptions to your regular orders. Nu-Hope offers ½ boxes for sale through certain dealers. Safe n Simple Statement Safe n Simple would like to assure all of the ostomy community that we are well stocked on supplies and do not foresee any issues or concerns with being able to provide products needed during the Coronavirus outbreak. supply our medical devices, so we encourage you to continue to order regular supply quantities and to avoid hoarding. To read more At this time of “new norm”, it is not unusual to be more uneasy. Please check out UOAA.org website for hints on how to feel less stressed. Please know that we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to call. Stay tuned for continued updates as I receive them from the UOAA. Take care everyone. Together we are stronger. Eileen Goldberg Why come to a meeting? Quotes from members- “From the first meeting I went to before my surgery I have been so blessed to meet such open, honest and caring people. People who I can share my worries, concerns & triumphs of my ostomy. I can't imagine going through this journey without all of them. One can't possibly go to a meeting and feel like you don't fit in. Not only does it feel good to go and get advice, but I think it feels even better to go and give to someone just starting out on the journey.” Tracey Sloan (member) "One of the most important things that helped me was the magazine for ostomates called The Phoenix, (I was sent home from the hospital with an issue, but too afraid to even open the folder that would tell me of ‘all’ the things that, at that time, were disgusting to me). I didn’t open that folder for over a month after my surgery. When I did open it and begin to read ‘everything’ that was in it, I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t believe all this information was written down, and much of it was exactly what I was feeling! I read that issue of The Phoenix from cover to cover, and then went online to the UOAA. So much information was available to me! I called the local support group, and talked to Steve Johnson, (the President) who took at least 45 minutes of his precious time to talk and share with me. He, too, had a colostomy. Hearing him talk openly of something I was so ashamed of was very comforting. He encouraged me to attend a meeting, and meet others who have also been there and who are currently there. The support group was invaluable to me! Debbie Conway (member) See her entire article Several years ago, during a visit with my physician, he asked me, “What kind of exercise are you getting?” I said, “I’m playing on a softball team for guys 45 and over.” To which he replied, “Softball! That’s not exercise….that’s’ a social event!” I couldn’t really argue with him and we both chuckled about it. Not long after this humorous exchange with my doctor, I came down with a very nasty case of Ulcerative Colitis. Jim Folsom article (member) See his entire article
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