Dear ISTAP Member,

On behalf of the ISTAP Board of Directors, we sincerely thank you for your continued membership with ISTAP. We are pleased to present this quarter’s ISTAP Communiqué, filled with exciting announcements and news. We wish you all happy holidays and a sparkling start of 2023! 

From the past to the present

ISTAP was founded in 2011 by Co-chairs: Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc (Canada) and Sharon Baranoski (USA), and Panel members: Dr. Karen Campbell (Canada), Dr. Kerlyn Carville (Australia), Dawn Christensen (Canada), Karen Edwards (USA), Mary Gloeckner (USA), Samantha Holloway (UK), Dr. Diane Langemo (USA), Alicia Madore (USA), Mary Ann Sammon (USA), Ann Williams (USA), and Dr. Mary Regan (USA).

In January 2016, ISTAP became an official interest group of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC). The NSWOCC has provided oversight and managerial support to ISTAP and has been instrumental in the growth of ISTAP.

ISTAP keeps reaching more and more members worldwide and wants to keep on increasing awareness and knowledge regarding skin tears and skin integrity. Currently we are happy to announce that ISTAP reached over 4750 members, reaching every continent worldwide.

New Best Practice Recommendations Translations

The 2020 ISTAP Best Practice Recommendations For Holistic Strategies To Promote and Maintain Skin Integrity are now also translated in French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. They can be downloaded for on our website!

Special skin tears issue of EWMA Journal of Wound Management 

ISTAP had the great pleasure and honor to develop a complete issue on skin tears in the EWMA Journal of Wound Management. This issue of JOWM is a Special issue on Current advances in risk assessment, prevention and treatment of skin tears and includes nine original manuscripts. This is a milestone in the development of the organisation.

We thank everybody who supported and contributed to this project and the journal is freely accessible at the link below.

Save the date:

“A World Without Skin Tears” Day 2023

27 April 2023

We are excited to be hosting for the second time our "A World Without Skin Tears" Day! Mark your agendas for 27 April 2023 to make sure you don't miss out on this important global educational event.

Call for Nominations:

Regional Director North America - Canada

The International Skin Tear Panel (ISTAP) Board of Directors is looking for nominations to fill the following Board Position: Regional Director North America - Canada

Term

This position will fill an existing term which runs until immediately after the May 2024 ISTAP Annual General meeting with an opportunity to run for an additional two years.

Nominations Deadline is January 5, 2023.

We will be announcing nominations for other open positions in the future. Please stay tuned for other opportunities to get involved!

Recognition of ISTAP Directors

Dr Karen Campbell and Dr Laura Teague

As they step down as board members, we want to thank Dr. Karen Campbell and Dr. Laura Teague for their hard work and donating their time and energy to support ISTAP as key members of the ISTAP leadership team.

Laura had been a board member of ISTAP for the last year and we thank her for her contributions to the organizations to date.

Karen was part of ISTAP from the very first beginning and was a huge asset to the organization. Karen will be missed but we wish her all the rest and relaxation that she deserves after all the years of hard work.

Happy Holidays from ISTAP!

On behalf of the ISTAP Board of Directors, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

JWC Awards 2023

As part of the JWC Conference 2023, the JWC Awards will return to London on the 24th of February 2023. Nominations are NOW OPEN, so please check our entry requirements to ensure you are ready to showcase your achievements at the JWC Awards 2023! Entries close Friday 23rd of December.

From our Corporate Partners

Mölnlycke

Don’t let an acute wound become a serious problem!

 A great way to keep updated on skin tear prevention, assessment and management is with Mölnlycke’s educational hub. This link will give you access to an e-learning module endorsed by ISTAP, several webinars presented by ISTAPs members, and an article on the role of dressings in skin tear management.