Tuesday, August 14, 2012
St Joseph’s Health Care, London
Preventing Amputations
London has been selected as one of only 10 locations in Canada to host a series of workshops for people living with diabetes. These workshops will focus on teaching diabetics to take care of their feet to avoid having a lower limb amputated.
Diabetes negatively affects sensation and healing ability, so those with diabetes often don’t know there’s anything wrong with their feet. That’s why constant attention to foot care is vital. 85 per cent of lower limb amputations are preceded by foot wounds, and an estimated 50 per cent of amputations could be prevented if good foot care practices were routine.
Kyle Goettl, a member of the expert advisory group and a nurse clinician in amputee rehabilitation at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Hospital, says, “Nothing would make us happier than to see our amputation business drop as a result of those with diabetes paying attention to their feet.”
The workshops, called PEP (Peer Education Program) Talk are open to anyone living with diabetes. They are led by a person with diabetes who has extensive training in foot care principles and prevention of foot wounds related to diabetes. Two nurses will also be offering their assistance and expertise.
The PEP Talk program was designed with input from people living with diabetes across the country as well as a national expert advisory group of health care professionals within the Canadian Association of Wound Care (CAWC).
These workshops are presented by the CAWC, with additional funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
For more information, or to register for one of the workshops, visit www.diabetesPEPtalk.ca or call 519-660-0959. The workshops are being held from 5:30 to 8:00 pm on Aug. 22 and Sept. 11 at the BioPed store, 125 Clarke Rd, London.
Media Contact:
Anne Kay
St. Joseph’s Health Care London
519-685-4292 ext 42470 or page 519-649-9238
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