Mission:
 The mission of the St. Paul Ostomy Association (SPOA) is to  assist persons in the St. Paul and  Minnesota area by providing emotional support, instructional and information services through membership, the family, associated caregivers and the general public. A self-help medical support organization dedicated to helping persons who have had surgery resulting in a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy (ileal diversion). SPOA is an all-volunteer, non-profit, self-governing association with a medical advisory board and approved by the Ramsey County Medical Society and the Saint Paul Division of Public Health.

What is an Ostomy?
 The word ostomy signifies a type of surgery required when a person has lost the normal function of the bladder or bowel due to birth defects, disease, injury or other disorders. Such operations include colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy and special procedures. The surgery allows for normal body wastes to be expelled through a new surgical opening (stoma) on the abdominal wall. Most persons with ostomies must wear special appliances or devices over the stoma. The St. Paul Ostomy Associations' goal is to enhance the lives of persons with ostomies, and others in the St. Paul area who have had or will have bowel or bladder diversionary surgery

Assistance to persons with an Ostomy:
 The Saint Paul Ostomy Association (SPOA) will send a trained member to visit an ostomy patient in the hospital pre-operatively and/or post-operatively at the request of a physician or nurse. A member will be available to the patient at any time for friendly visiting, ostomy management advice, or reassurance.

Education and information:
Group meetings are held each month ( except June, July and August) at 10:00 AM on the third Saturday of the month. The Pacesetter, an informative bi-monthly newsletter, is published by the SPOA containing articles helpful to children and adults with ostomies, and to their families. Qualified members conduct classes on ostomy care for students and staff nurses in hospitals and schools of nursing upon request.

How the Ostomy Association can help you:
Members are given the opportunity to help others and so help themselves. They are encouraged to resume their activities in the home, on the job, and in the community. We can help by:

The exchange of knowledge and ideas made possible by our monthly meetings will greatly benefit you and your family. There you may:

Meet and learn of approved ostomy care from well-known authorities, physicians and enterostomal therapist nurses who are invited to speak or attend the meetings.

Hear about and exchange experiences with other persons having an ileostomy, colostomy or urostomy.

See and learn about the wide variety of appliances and equipment available to the ostomate through presentations from manufacturer's representatives and the SPOA appliance display board.

Obtain reading materials and videos on ostomy care and rehabilitation gathered from local and national sources available at no charge.

Participate in association social activities and attend local, regional and national conferences.

How you can become a member:
 Membership dues are $25.00 for one year and include the SPOA newsletter- The Pacesetter and the national magazine, The Ostomy Quarterly. Contact us at:

THE SAINT PAUL OSTOMY ASSOCIATION
PO Box 75365, St. Paul. Minnesota 55175 
Phone: Eileen at (651) 455-6467
E-mail: gebohrer@usfamily.net
Internet: http://www.ostomy.org

Check out the links below for more information:

News updates
Archives Minneapolis Ostomy Assoc.
Tribute to Archie Vinitsky  

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contact: Eileen Gebohrer
gebohrer@usfamily.net

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