Wellness Partners, LLC Launches Continencenurse.net to Educate and Inform Medical Professionals

Concord NH August 2, 2007 — Wellness Partners is pleased to announce the launch of www.continencenurse.net, a new website for continence nurses and other pelvic health professionals who provide services for urinary and fecal incontinence, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, pelvic floor dysfunction and other related medical conditions. ContinenceNurse.net offers continuing education opportunities, current information on pelvic health issues, specialized nursing protocols and programs, access to an online searchable database of health providers, known as SEPHIAsChoice.com, and a group of innovative community features.

Diane K. Newman, RNC MSN, CRNP FAAN, a certified nurse practitioner, an international expert in the area of pelvic floor dysfunction, and currently Director of the Incontinence Center at SeekWellness.com, has been working for years to create a network of highly specialized continence nurses and other pelvic health specialists. ContinenceNurse.net will be a gathering spot for this group as well as a place for them to stay current on the latest research, medications, protocols and products for their patients.

"At many of my seminars and talks, I'm asked to share information about my programs and website with my colleagues. One of my long term goals has been to set up a network of pelvic health professionals to share information, products and opportunities and ContinenceNurse.net is my response." said Newman. "As a busy pelvic health specialist myself, I know how important it is to stay informed about the latest advances in medicine, products, training and consumer needs — but it's not easy. This new website will be a major help to all us."

A companion website, www.SEPHIAsChoice.com, will be launched at the same time. SEPHIA's Choice™ is a database of pelvic health specialists with detailed information about their practices including the specific services they provide, conditions they treat, setting, type of practice and patient target group. The database is searchable by geographic area and condition. An advanced search feature gives site visitors the ability to find very specific services with up to fifteen variables that can be chosen. The goal is to help consumers find specific continence services and to assist health professionals in referring their patients to qualified continence service providers. This highly specialized group, continence nurses, is scattered among a variety of settings including gynecology and urology practices. Until now, there has been no easy way for their services to be readily available to the public.

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the unwanted leakage or loss of urine when you don't want to and overactive bladder (OAB) is the uncontrollable urinary urgency and frequency usually associated with urinary incontinence (UI). These two conditions are very common problems in the United States and are estimated to afflict 33 million Americans. More than two thirds of the persons with UI and OAB are women. The total annual cost of providing care for persons with UI is estimated to be $28 billion.

The inability to control urine is one of the most unpleasant and distressing problems from which a person can suffer, often causing isolation, depression and physiological problems. In addition to the patient, UI is also a burden for family caregivers and the community, and the number one reason aging parents are put into nursing homes.

Wellness Partners, LLC was formed in 2001 by a group of health care professionals who want to put the "heart" back into health care. They hope to empower consumers and form partnerships with them to change the health care system through education, interaction and support. Most importantly, they want the consumer to seek wellness always.

Access Wellness Partners' web sites at:
www.seekwellness.com
www.sephiaschoice.com
www.ContinenceNurse.net

For more information, contact Josee Archer at 800 840-9301.

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