Ostomy Care
For years, ostomy care was an unmet need in the North Bay and patients had limited or no choice but to drive to the city for treatment. The MarinHealth Ostomy Clinic was founded to enable patients to receive essential care, close to home. The Clinic is an outpatient service at MarinHealth Medical Center, available to all patients in the community.
An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a stoma, or opening in the body. It is a treatment option for certain diseases of the digestive or urinary systems. Stomas serve as a conduit between the inside and the outside of the body. Some stomas are permanent, such as when an organ must be removed. Temporary stomas can also be used in cases when an organ can’t function properly because it needs time to heal. We care for all types of ostomies and drainage tubes, including:
- Colostomy is a surgically created opening of the large intestine. The surgeon removes a portion of the colon or rectum and attaches the remainder of the colon to the abdominal wall to form a stoma.
- Ileostomy is an ostomy created from the ileum, part of the small intestine, which is brought through the abdominal wall to create a stoma. Ileostomies may be temporary or permanent.
- Urostomy is a general term for one of several surgeries that divert urine away from a diseased or defective bladder.
- Nephrostomy is an artificial opening that allows for urine to be diverted directly from the kidney and out through the skin using a special tube called a nephrostomy tube.
- Suprapubic Catheter (SPC) is an incision below the navel used to drain urine from the bladder. An SPC is usually more comfortable than a regular catheter because it isn’t inserted through the urethra.
- Gastric Tube (G-tube) is a procedure for patients who are having difficulty swallowing. The G-tube allows for food, liquids, and medication to be provided directly to the stomach. The G-tube is passed into a patient’s stomach through the abdominal wall.
Our Services
We offer a full range of ostomy care services.
- Assessment of the stoma and surrounding skin
- Recommendations for care of skin
- Pouch adherence
- Product selection
- Pre-operative marking
- Lifestyle and emotional support
Patients must have a referral from their physician and should register as an outpatient. The Ostomy Clinic is available Wednesday afternoons at MarinHealth Medical Center, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae. Appointments must be made directly with the Wound & Ostomy department.
For more information, please contact Wound & Ostomy Services at 1-415-925-7893.