Smith & Nephew Continues Support of Wound Care Nurses

"As a pioneering member of the global wound care community supporting healthcare professionals for more than 150 years, Smith & Nephew understands and values the important, versatile role WOC nurses play in improving outcomes, securing access, reducing costs and ensuring patient satisfaction for those suffering from wounds, ostomies, or urinary and fecal incontinence," said Patricia Burns, a WOC nurse and now Vice President of Professional Affairs and Education at Smith & Nephew's U.S. Advanced Wound Management business. "This week we encourage you to celebrate and educate your colleagues about what makes you, as a WOC nurse, special. From all of us at Smith & Nephew, Happy WOC Nurse Week!"

There is an increasing prevalence of chronic wounds of all types that encumbers patients and health care systems with significant personal and financial burdens. This creates increased demand for WOC nurses, especially as payers transition to value-based purchasing, prompting healthcare facilities to carefully implement best practices and employ specialists to prevent and manage patients' wounds.

"We are so pleased that Smith & Nephew is once again supporting WOC Nurse Week," said current WOCN Society President, Carolyn Watts, MSN, RN, CWON. "We know it takes special training, skills, dedication and compassion to be a WOC nurse and on behalf of their patients we express our appreciation and thanks."

A key goal of WOC Nurse Week is increasing awareness of the pivotal role WOC nurses play in providing optimal patient care in multiple healthcare settings. These include acute, outpatient, long-term and home health care. WOC nurses must complete specialized education beyond basic nursing education, including hands-on clinical training and certification.

They share expert clinical skills, help control costs and ensure compliance while working toward improved patient care through positive outcomes, advocacy and the education of patients and families.

To learn more about the vital role of WOC nurses, please visit the WOCN website http://www.wocn.org.

About the WOCN Society
Founded in 1968, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society is a professional, international nursing society of over 5,000 health care professionals who are experts in the care of patients with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. The Society supports its members by promoting educational, clinical and research opportunities to advance the practice, and guide the delivery of health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. Learn more by visiting www.wocn.org

Connect with the WOCN Society on Facebook at Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN), on Twitter at @WOCNSociety and on LinkedIn at Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.

About Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2015 were more than $4.6 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com.

Forward-looking Statements
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