Exemplary wound care specialist wins trip to Olympic closing ceremonies
3M Canada sponsors winning ticket for skin-care contest amongst Revera long-term care homes
Tuesday February 16, 2010 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
Connie Howald of Pinecrest Manor says her recent win in a skin-care contest was confirmation for her that she is doing well as a wound care specialist.

The registered practical nurse has been her home’s designated wound champ for about three years, providing guidance on wound dressings, evaluating the status of wounds and filing reports on skin care across the Revera Inc.-owned long-term care home.

She notes the role she plays is very important in the lives of residents, particularly in ensuring wounds are treated as early as possible.

“It’s very important (to treat at first detection) because if you don’t, the ulcers can get very big very quickly and they are very painful for the residents,” says Howald.

She adds she was uncertain about her home’s wound-care status so was pleased to learn it had qualified to enter the skin-care contest.

“That was good news for me,” says Howald. “This does show that we are on the right track.”

The skin-care contest was held amongst Revera’s long-term care homes, which qualified to enter a draw by reaching a targeted goal of 1.2 per cent or less for internally acquired skin breakdown.

Sixty-five per cent of the homes met the target, which Revera vice-president of clinical services and program development Joanne Dykeman says is noteworthy considering the criteria was “very aggressive.”

Of all the homes entered in the draw, Pinecrest Manor was selected and presented with a ticket, sponsored by 3M Canada, a Revera partner, to the Olympic closing ceremonies in Vancouver Feb. 28.

Pinecrest executive director and director of care Teresa Driver and her management team chose Howald to receive the winning ticket “on account of her commitment to success and leadership in wound and skin-care activities,” a press release states.

Howald says she is thrilled to have won the trip.

“I’ve been watching (the Olympic coverage) on the news now and thinking, ‘I’m going to be there,’” she notes.

“It’s just very exciting. I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a lot of fun.”

Dykeman says the contest was organized to celebrate the “tremendous work” of Revera clinicians in achieving high-standard skin-care targets this year.

“Typically our work is felt at the bedside primarily by our patients,” says Dykeman.

“(Through this contest), we are (providing additional) recognition for the work that our clinicians are doing. They’re hitting their clinical targets, they’re implementing best practices and they’re being the best.”

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