Diabetic Foot Complications: Research evidence, clinical reasoning & skills
Friday January 9 & Saturday 10, 2015
Course Description:
This 2 day course is designed to provide health care professionals with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge
and skills to assess, treat and manage diabetic foot complications as it pertains to their profession. The course
will focus on the effects of diabetes as they relate to the foot; including identification of the at-risk foot, diabetic
foot ulcers, off-loading modalities. This course will include didactic presentations, in-class exercises,
demonstration, open discussion and clinical lab sessions.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Review the effects of diabetes as they relate to foot complications and recognize the impact this has in
this population group, the health system, and the community at large.
2. Appreciate systemic process of Diabetes and the management strategies required to improve this.
3. Identify the key risk factors in the development of foot ulcers and amputations in people with diabetes.
4. Describe the aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of foot ulcers in people with diabetes,
with an emphasis that they are multi-factorial.
5. Identify through physical assessment “at risk” and “high risk” foot.
6. Recall the holistic management of foot wounds in people with diabetes. To include wound care,
pressure reduction techniques, medical management, psychological/sociological aspects of care and the
role of the health care team.
7. Describe the potential complications of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, including infection and
amputation.
8. Describe key prevention strategies to avoid foot complications in people with diabetes (PWD), with the
emphasis on holistic management and the team approach.
9. Apply new knowledge through case studies.
Outline
Diabetes: A Chronic Systemic Disease. The need to address medical management of the person with diabetes- glucose
control targets, lipid, cardiac health, smoking cessation- Canadian Diabetes Association guidelines.
Foot: Finding the Cause. Identification of the at risk & high risk, and prevention strategies
Ulcer: Assessing and managing a foot ulcer in a PWD. Debridement, wound monitoring and Dressings
Vascular: Assessing and managing a foot ulcer in a PWD. Appreciating the vascular assessment in management
of diabetic foot ulcer
Infection: Assessing and managing a foot ulcer in a PWD.
Putting it all together with interactive case studies. The holistic approach and the need for a specialized team – following
IWGDF guidelines.
Pressure: Taking it off. Theory and evidence of pressure redistribution modalities
Show & Tell with Pressure Redistribution Devices. Demonstration of different modalities
Interactive Case Studies. Practice of pressure redistribution
Yes, there’s a person attached to that foot ulcer. Psychosocial aspects and quality of life of people with diabetes who
have foot ulcers
Diabetic Foot Ulcer-The Team Experience. Foot notes from the interprofessional diabetes foot ulcer team in London, ON
My whole new set of friends for 2015: Building your new team
Cost: $250.00 + HST ($32.50) = $282.50
For more information and registration form:
Contact Cheryl Harding, MClSc Program Assistant at charding@uwo.ca or 519-661-2111 ext. 88843
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COURSE INSTRUCTORS:
Ann-Marie McLaren, DCh, MClScWH, Registered Chiropodist/Foot Specialist
Ann-Marie is a registered chiropodist who graduated from the Michener Institute Chiropody Program. She
completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Sunderland in England and
her Master’s of Clinical Science Degree in Wound Healing from the University of Western Ontario.
Ann-Marie has over 20 years of experience, working in both hospitals and private practice based settings
managing foot related complications. She is currently a member of the St. Michael’s Hospital Interdisciplinary
Wound Care Team, specializing in the high risk foot, limb salvage and advanced wound care. She also holds the
position of professional practice leader for the profession of chiropody at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Ann-Marie enjoys teaching health care professionals from all disciplines and actively teaches Master’s students
from University of Western Ontario, chiropody students from Michener Institute Chiropody Program and medical
fellows from University of Toronto.
Ann-Marie participates in clinical research with multiple active projects, published papers and international
presentations. She works on interdisciplinary committees, conferences, is currently a member of the College of
Chiropodists and has been invited to provide expert opinion on Ministry of Health funded wound care projects.
Ann-Marie and her husband Gord have 2 boys; Elliott age 21 and Jonathan age 19. In her spare time, Ann-Marie
enjoys many outdoor activities.
Laura Teague, RN-EC Nurse Practitioner-Wound Care
Laura Teague is an advanced practice nurse at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She is cross appointed at the
University of Toronto at the Faculty of Nursing. Laura is also on Faculty for Clinical Masters of Wound Healing at
the University of Western Ontario in London. Laura’s undergraduate education includes a Bachelor of Arts and a
Bachelor of Nursing Science (Queens’s 1987), a Master’s Degree in Nursing (1997) and a Post Master’s Acute
Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma program (2001 Un of Toronto). Leadership programs completed include the
Dorothy Wylie Nursing Leadership Program (2005) and the Leadership Academy through the Rotman School of
Business Management, University of Toronto (2007). Laura has 10 years of experience in medical-surgical and
cardiovascular intensive care nursing. Since 1998, she played an integral role in the development,
implementation and continuous evaluation of an interdisciplinary wound prevention and treatment program at St.
Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Laura is an active member of the RNAO, participating on Best Practice Guideline
and Wound Care Institute development. She also serves as a clinical expert on advisory panels for the Ontario
Medical Health Secretariat. Laura is first President of the Ontario Wound Care Interest Group.
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