Pacific conference on affordable wound care

The first Pacific Conference on Limb Preservation, held for two days at Sandcastle, Hyatt Regency Saipan, discussed the cheapest, most affordable but quality treatment of wounds in the Pacific region.

Event coordinator and physical therapist Dana McFadden said the seminar, conducted by world-renowned Wound Care specialist Jeffrey Feedar, focused on wound care that is affordable and convenient, especially for cash-strapped nations in the Pacific.

McFadden said Feedar did an excellent job presenting alternatives to quality wound care for patients. For instance, instead of using expensive liquid and chemicals to treat wounds, Feedar said they could use regular safe water for cleaning wounds.

McFadden said she is happy with the outcome of the event, which drew a total of 101 participants. “It’s a fantastic turnout.”

Guam sent over 30 participants while six healthcare professionals from the Republic of Marshall Islands attended. The Northern Marianas College Nursing Department sent 22 of its students to attend the wound care seminar.

Other participants included eight doctors, nurses, and physical therapists from the Commonwealth Health Center and private clinics, both from Saipan and Tinian.

Department of Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said the response to the two-day inaugural wound care seminar was overwhelming. He said the seminar would not have happened without the hard work of McFadden, CHC’s resident physical therapist.

Villagomez, together with Physical Therapy Department head Pam Carhill and CHC administrator Joseph Santos, gave a plaque of recognition to McFadden at the end of the seminar.

The DPH secretary said the seminar was very educational and informative. He thanked all participants and acknowledged their cooperation in providing the highest quality of care to patients with wound problems.

“It has been very positive in providing quality of life to individuals in the entire region,” he added.

Villagomez hopes that the seminar would provide the islands with more expertise in handling patients with wound problems. He, however, stressed that wound care should always start with patients.

Feedar, who himself is a physical therapist and Certified Wound Specialist, has lectured extensively for the past 23 years on current concepts in chronic and acute wound care to PTs and allied health professionals nationwide and worldwide.

Feedar said this was his first time on Saipan and he was impressed with the hospitality shown him throughout his stay.

“People here are very hospitable and I feel very welcome,” he said.

Feedar said his workshop aims to encourage healthcare professionals to work as a team in providing better and improved services to patients with wound problems.

TakeCare resident medical doctor Nathan Tan said the training was extremely valuable in improving wound care for CNMI patients. Marianas Medical Center nurse Manny Camacho said he enjoyed the training. “It is very valuable to our profession,” he added.