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In this episode of ‘SCI Care: What really Matters’ we talk about how to reduce the risks associated with long-term intermittent catheterisation. Our host is John Thomson, clinical education manager for Wellspect, UK. John has worked in the medical device industry for over 20 years, having formerly been a nurse, and has worked in the field of intermittent catheterisation for approximately seven to eight years. He is joined by Diane Newman,a urology nurse practitioner from the US whose current practice involves the evaluation, treatment and management of bladder disorders, including the avoidance of dysfunction and related problems involved with the use of catheters and other devices. Our second guest is Veronika Geng, the head of an advisory centre for nutrition and digestion for spinal cord injured people in Lobbach, Germany.
What are the practical tools and techniques for catheterisation and the design properties of different catheters which can reduce complications for long-term users? Our guests share their expert insight in this area. We also consider the pros and cons of sharing this information with patients and the importance of giving them informed choice when it comes to this very personal area of care.
We discuss best practice for healthcare practitioners in ensuring that long-term users of intermittent catheters are performing the procedure safely, including the importance of the teaching, learning and dissemination of best practice guidelines for clinicians at all levels who might be involved in this kind of patient care. A vital part of this is remembering that each patient is unique and will be at a different stage of both their mental and physical recovery. Practitioners must keep this in mind when explaining the benefits of intermittent catheterisation over indwelling catheter use and work together with patients to make the process work for them.
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and SCI patients are part of a unique cohort who are dealing with a life-changing, but not necessarily a life-limiting, prognosis. Helping them come to terms with all aspects of their ongoing care and the practicalities of day-to-day life is one of the most challenging but rewarding parts of our work in SCI care. By supporting our patients in having the best possible health and care outcomes we can play our part in giving them long-lasting quality of life.
The opinions of our host and guests are their own; ISCoS does not endorse any individual viewpoints, given products or companies.
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The SCI Care: What Really Matters podcast aims to provide valuable insights and the most up-to-date information for those providing care to people with spinal cord injury (SCI) worldwide. The vision of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) is to "facilitate healthy and inclusive lives for people with spinal cord injury or dysfunction globally".
Contact us directly with any questions or comments at iscos@associationsltd.co.uk
