Forward together with healthcare professionals everywhere

Hospitals and other health organisations are experiencing cuts on professional wound care management education, which is threatening the standard of care significantly. HEAL is Coloplast’s global educational programme that’s developed in close collaboration with international wound care experts with the aim of increasing knowledge about modern wound healing principles and improving the standard of care for wound patients around the world.

“The HEAL programme can help provide structured clinically based education that’s been designed by health professionals for health professionals – it’s really well-designed, engaging, keeps people’s interest and is flexible. The individual can learn at home; they haven’t got time at work anymore to go to training and they sometimes can’t even access computer terminals to do online learning – so to provide a flexible package that’s well-designed is really relevant.”

Madeleine is a big believer in the power of access to education. It is imperative that healthcare professionals are in a position where they can continuously improve and learn new skills.

“Access to professional education for health care professionals is restricted and limited these days, so the HEAL programme is a real opportunity to give people access to education that is well thought out and planned from an educational perspective rather than a promotional perspective.”

At the age of 19, Kevin was in a car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. 33 years later, the spinal unit at his local hospital considered closing and moving the unit to another hospital. Kevin refused to accept the sad destiny of his local hospital and decided to fight to keep the spinal unit open to him and other patients who depended on the doctors and consultants there.

“I cannot stand when things are not right. They should be right. I don't know what it is in me, I really don't know why I have this innate desire to make things right. I see something that's wrong I want it to be made right, and I will fight.”

Thanks to Kevin, the hospital did not close and, shortly after, he founded SPINE, a patient support group for patient, relatives and doctors within the spinal cord injury area where he is now Chief Executive. He is also part of the multi-disciplinary management team at the Pinderfield rehab unit where he was once a patient, and he aims to keep improving the standard of care that patients can receive.

“Helping people is why you become a doctor. You need to keep that motivation every day and renew that commitment with every patient. The day you forget your passion and the reason why you became a doctor, it’s better to change profession.”

Mauro feels that his relationship with Coloplast is very important. As he puts it, it is very much like team work, and working together is key for him when it comes to giving the patients the best possible health outcome.

“We are aiming for the best for the patient. Especially when things don’t go as planned, when the job is tough and we are facing a difficult situation, our collaboration is key to find the best solution together. We discuss how to find the best materials and products for the patient and I trust that Coloplast will always do a good job.”

“Beyond the quality of the products, the communication and the support, Coloplast is also a partner in providing access to knowledge and keeping us (surgeons) up to date with technological innovation, surgical techniques, and giving us access to learnings from peers: best practice in surgery and surgical team work.”

Mauro has learned a lot through Coloplast programmes, especially in the penile implants area in the US. By watching the surgical teams working, he has learned how to work faster and build a more performant team (nurses/ CP/ surgeon) when he operates.

By sponsoring events and congresses, Coloplast brings people together to reinforce knowledge sharing and the community. That also plays an important role in introducing residents to urology as most of them are focused on robotics.

“I am focused every day on preparing the necessary changes. What do I need to deliver today to build the best possible future? I take time to speak to patients to understand in depth the impact of their condition on their lives, how it also impacts their work, and their family. Often we need to go deeper in the conversation to identify precisely what the specific needs of the person are. There is not one fits all solution, each individual is unique and the solution is unique too.”

Elise’s sister was afraid to go out in public, fearing that her stoma might leak. Listening to her sister’s problems, Elise conceived the idea of the world’s first adhesive ostomy bag.

Based on Elise’s idea, Aage Louis-Hansen, a civil engineer and plastics manufacturer, and his wife Johanne Louis-Hansen, a trained nurse, created the ostomy bag. An ostomy bag that helped Thora – and thousands of people like her – to live the life they want to lead. A simple solution that makes a difference.

That tradition is still alive and well in our company, and Louise (right) is just one example of that. A paediatric enterostomal therapy nurse, Louise has devoted her life to raising awareness and teaching other nurses all over the world. She is the former chairperson of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) and has long been a member of the Coloplast Ostomy Forum (COF).

Her goal has always been and remains to help as many people as possible live the life they want to live.

“Coloplast is very good at bringing people together. Coloplast and nurses share the same goal. We want to improve the patients’ quality of life.”