Streamway sees 'excellent results' with skin care program
Friday, August 13, 2004 - Michelle Strutzenberger
A prevalence study at Streamway Villa recently showed there were zero new skin breakdowns in residents. This outcome is due to the intense focus Streamway has put on skin care over the past few months. All registered staff but one completed an advanced course in wound care this past year.

The long-term care home in Cobourg has also been actively responding to the Healthy Skin Healthy Living project, led by Candace Chartier from OMNI home office. In February Candace began visiting each of the OMNI homes to provide information and support on skin care. Candace offered tips on the many aspects of skin care, including suggestions on positioning of residents and on some of the products at the homes’ disposal to help out residents and their skin care needs. The project also received support from Smith & Nephew, whose representatives have been teaching about the aspects of healthy skin and how to prevent skin breakdown.

"The Healthy Skin Healthy Living project has made a huge difference for our residents," says Administrator Leeanne Hadley.

"We're seeing excellent results."

Some of the residents who moved to the home came with large, difficult wounds. "The staff has been able to clear them up very well," says Leeanne. "We’re very proud of that."

In one instance it was expected that a plastic surgeon would be required to repair some skin damage but that need was nullified because of the highly-effective skin care program. "The surgeon was very complimentary toward the staff for their efforts," says Leeanne.

It was KCI, a global corporation specializing in wound care and other medical support, which carried out the prevalence study at the home a few weeks ago and found zero new skin breakdowns in residents. "The representative said it was the first time she'd seen this among the 20 homes that she surveyed."

Considering the excellent results they’ve seen, the administrator says the skin care program could easily be considered one of Streamway’s best practices.

Pain and palliative care is also quickly becoming an area of excellence for the long-term care home. Several staff members completed palliative care courses recently. "We're seeing a lot more formalized palliative care," says Leeanne.