CUTLINE – Pictured is the Wound and Ostomy Team at HCMC Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Paris, TN – In observance of Wound Ostomy Continence Week, Henry County Medical Center is recognizing the valuable service and care that its two wound and ostomy specialists provide to our patients.

Sonya Clark, RN, is a certified Wound Ostomy Continence nurse, who has been at HCMC for over 20 years. More recently, Clark has moved to oversee the team at HCMC’s new Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine. She is joined at the center by Alycia Gibson, PA-C, who has 10 years of experience treating wound patients.

WOC nurses specifically care for and help treat patients with wounds, ostomies (urostomy, colostomy, &/or ileostomy), and/or any continence issues, such as bowel or bladder incontinence.

During a recent study conducted in home health care settings, it was found that WOC nurses can greatly affect patient improvement levels. Per this study, patients who were taken care of by a WOC (as opposed to patients who did not have a WOC nurse) were:

Nearly twice as likely to have an improvement in pressure ulcers.
20% more likely to have an improvement in lower extremity ulcers.
40% more likely to have an improvement in surgical wounds.
40% more likely to have an improvement in urinary incontinence.
14% more likely to have an improvement in bowel incontinence.

More information on wound, ostomy and continence care can be found at www.wocn.org.

HCMC’s Center for Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine is located on the HCMC campus at 239 Tyson Avenue. The center can be contacted by calling (731) 644-8208.

You can watch videos about wound and ostomy care here: https://youtu.be/6toRx4c7OGw and https://youtu.be/j3aJFTQLM3A or on our website at www.hcmc-tn.org.

About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.