Using Me+ to support patients and staff

CLP recently ran some polls in our Facebook group to find out how those working in continence care were managing their patients and their team on a daily basis. The results of these polls highlighted some interesting areas that we believe that Me+ can really help with.

When asked ‘How much time do you typically have to address continence issues with patients?’, 28% felt that they had some time, but not enough for full assessment or discussion, and an additional 14% felt that they rarely had enough time, and that continence is often not addressed.

More concerningly, when asked to respond to the statement ‘In my urology role, I have had to delay or reduce the level of continence support I would ideally like to provide to patients due to workload or staffing pressures’, 75% of respondents strongly agreed with this statement and 25% agreed with it.

Me+ has been specifically designed by Convatec to support patients who are using catheters. We know that catheterisation can feel overwhelming, and it's natural for patients to feel worried or anxious. When a patient is starting to use catheters, the more support and advice they get at the initial stages, hopefully the easier it will be for them to adjust to and embrace this change.

Me+ has been created to support patients throughout their whole journey: before, during, and after their initial consultation so the patient can feel confident catheterising. It contains:

• Guides that introduce patients to intermittent self-catheterising, support a personalised approach for each user – as recommended by the recent NICE guidance on intermittent self-catheterising and help the patient to get the most out of their appointments with their healthcare professionals.
• Frequently asked questions – so that patients can access the answers that they need when they need them, rather than having to wait for their next appointment.
• Personalised videos which guide them through the process of intermittent self-catheterisation – providing them with a reminder that they can look at as many times as they need to in the comfort and security of their own home.
• Emotional wellbeing programme – again, this acknowledges some of the awkwardness and discomfort that they may feel initially, and helps them to address, overcome and succeed with intermittent self-catheterisation, giving them back their independence.

By introducing your patients to Me+, you should be able to support them, feel sure that you are meeting their needs between appointments and providing them with the personalised approach that they need.
 

Team training

Next time you have a team training session due, why not spend the time all getting to know the ins and outs of the Me+ programme together, as a team? Not only will you be impressed by the breadth and depth of the resources, but with joint learning, you’ll be able to support and remind each other of the different parts of the Me+ programme going forwards, and ensure that you are all offering your patients the best possible care, personalised to them, even with the current resource challenges so many of you are facing.

Let us help you to help your patients.