Amy Landrum, AGNP-C, CWOCN, is a nurse practitioner, so she doesn’t beat around the bush.
“I’m here to help people and their caregivers who are having difficulty with their catheter and ostomy supplies,” she says.
Amy serves as support to ABC Medical customers and caregivers, their doctors, and our staff. Often, she’s a helpful lifeline for people learning to use their new catheter or ostomy supplies.
She is a Nurse Practitioner with advanced certifications, including in WOCN—wound, ostomy, and continence nursing. With this focused expertise, Amy helps clients learn to use their catheter and ostomy products, interface with insurance, build confidence, and overcome stigma.
Because self-cathing and adapting to life with an ostomy bag is an unfamiliar experience for most, sometimes bringing a level of anxiety, Amy fields a lot of questions day-to-day. Here are a few of the most common, along with her best answers.
1. What’s going on with my catheter or ostomy product?
“I get a version of this question all the time,” Amy says, “and the answer really depends upon the individual’s situation. People have a wide variety of questions, especially when they’re new.”
Amy often speaks with patients who are cathing for the first time. Many, she says, are sent home from the hospital with limited guidance. She can help make the learning curve less steep, with explanations about product packaging, cathing mechanics, and other support.
In addition, people with a new ostomy often leave the hospital with products that don’t fit correctly. She can help recommend products that will fit properly so patients can get out of bed and get back to life. Often, Amy empowers clients to return to their doctor’s office for thorough lessons about how to use their new catheter or ostomy products and to get a precise fit.
Related reading: Can You Exercise Comfortably with a Catheter?
2. Can you give me medical advice?
Amy cannot give medical advice and encourages all clients with medical questions to speak to their doctor, who can help with their individual circumstances.
When patients need support knowing what questions to ask, Amy is happy to talk through their concerns and help them prepare to talk with their medical team. She can also help clients understand which doctors or specialists might be best for them to contact and can help find other support programs.
3. Why won’t my insurance cover this product?
Although Amy is not a miracle worker, she does have a lot of experience with how insurance companies pay for catheter and ostomy supplies. When customers call with worries about insurance coverage, Amy can often ease their concerns or recommend products their insurance company might be more likely to cover.
“Sometimes I can help figure out which products will work best with a customer’s insurance coverage,” Amy says, “And then I can give them some alternatives to consider.”
Related reading: Insurance Coverage for Catheters & Ostomy Supplies
4. How can I, as an ABC Medical representative, best help ABC Medical customers?
One important group of people Amy supports are the ABC Medical representatives. She helps prepare our reps to go out into the field and work with doctors, nurses, and patients to help them find the right catheter and ostomy supplies.
As part of their orientation, our representatives get to know Amy and learn more about the clinical side of medical supplies.
“I’m here to support our customers with their products, so whenever we hire new people, I spend some time with them to orient them to how they can help me help our customers,” Amy explains.
Related reading: Meet Amy, ABC Medical’s CWOC Nurse with a Passion for Improving Patients’ Lives
For Amy Landrum, working closely with ABC Medical customers gives her an opportunity to help when people need it most.
“It can be scary coming home with a new catheter or ostomy,” she says, “and sometimes that’s because people don’t know what to do. I’m here to help.”
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Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice, please speak with your healthcare provider.