​​Ostomy Care​

At Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Ostomy Care, our certified ostomy nurses care for individuals with a colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, continent diversion, urinary diversion, fistula or tubes.

Our providers​ help ostomy patients with adjustments to lifestyle changes, which include sexual counseling, clothing changes, or modifications for work or leisure activities. ​Our focus is to help patients be as active and independent as possible.

There are three types of ostomies: colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy. While many require an outside bag to collect waste, some types allow waste collection inside your body. The type of ostomy needed and how long it will be needed depends on the medical condition. 

Colostomy

This operation creates an opening somewhere in the large intestine such as the bowel or colon. In most cases, waste passes through the new opening and is collected in a pouch outside the body.

Ileostomy

In this procedure, the colon and the rectum may be removed. Waste will then pass through a new opening in the small intestine. In some ileostomies, waste collects in an outside pouch. But in other types, waste can collect either in a pouch inside the body or may still be removed naturally.​

Urostomy

This ostomy creates an opening that diverts urine away from a diseased or infected bladder. The urine is then collected in a pouch outside the body.

Clinic Services

Patients are seen at the outpatient ostomy clinic for pre-operative visits and routine clinic visits.​

​Ostomy clinic providers also see patients in the hospital after they have had surgery to address their concerns, answer questions and to schedule an outpatient appointment.​

Pre-Operative Visits

During pre-operative visits, clinic providers help the patient understand the following topics:

• Disease process and the reasons requiring the procedure
• Procedure​ and the changes to elimination
  
• Gastrointestinal/genitourinary anatomy and function
• Changes in elimination pattern
• Lifestyle changes
  
• Changes in sexual function
  

Providers will also:

• Show different pouching systems
• Provide stoma marking, if pre-op
• Give a pre-op kit
• Provide a plan of care and clinic contact information for follow-up after surgery
• Address any concerns and answer questions
  

Outpatient Clinic Visits

During routine ostomy outpatient clinic visits, providers:

• Coordinate home ostomy supply arrangements
  
• Provide ostomy supply resources
• Teach skills regarding pouch change
  
• Share diet and fluid guidelines according to ostomy type
• Discuss medication impact according to ostomy type
• Address output expectations according to ostomy type; nighttime drainage system for urostomy
  
• Provide irrigation, if applicable
  
• Offer education on sexual function
• Report complications to your health care team
• Provide/coordinate care for stoma complications
• Care for peristomal​ skin issues
  
• Address pouch problems
• Provide written information reinforcing education
• Share available resources
  

Contact​

For questions or to schedule an appointment, call 706-509-​5184.

Locations​​​​