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WestCare Health System has been selected as a winner of the 2008 Employer Recognition Award given by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB).

The WestCare Wound Clinic, located on the campus of Harris Regional Hospital is led by director Lori Yerse, RN, CWOCN and includes Dawn Breakiron, RN, CWOCN, Jody Burtner, RN, CWCN, Tyra Greene, RN and office manager Debbie Lucas. The CWOCNs are board certified in the areas of wound, ostomy and/or continence care. They also serve as consultants to the WestCare Home Health agency and to numerous long term care facilities throughout Western North Carolina.The national award was developed to publicly recognize organizations that advocate for, or promote, specialty nursing certification, according to the WOCNCB which provides credentialing for those who pass its certification exam.

"The WOCN is considered the gold standard of wound, ostomy, and continence care in the United States. Board certification indicates that nurses meet the highest standards of care in their specialty. Wound care is an area of healthcare that has had enormous research and progress within the past 20 years, and the WOCN provides a national network for ongoing education and collaboration in this specialty. Physicians and patients can be assured that certified nurses in any specialty provide the most up-to-date, evidenced-based care in their areas of expertise. In areas of wound, ostomy, and continence care, that certification is the WOCN," said Yerse.

Organizations were evaluated based on their support of the certification process, from the reimbursement of course review materials and exam fees to providing paid time off to nurses taking the exam. Other criteria included recognition of the WOCNCB credentials and salary adjustments for nurses upon certification.

"Board certification is a major accomplishment in nursing and we are proud to do everything we can as an organization to encourage those nurses who seek such levels in their specialty," said WestCare Chief Nurse Executive Sheila Price.

In addition to the WOCNCB Employer Recognition Award, WestCare Health System won the Laureate Award for Workplace Excellence in 2007 and 2006 and has been named the N.C. Employment Security Commission’s Employer of the Year for the last seven years.

"Our employees have goals they want to reach in order to provide the highest quality of care to our patients and this award on behalf of the Wound Clinic is a testament to how WestCare supports those efforts," said WestCare CEO Mark Leonard.

For more information call the WestCare Wound Clinic at 586-7910.