You MUST book an appointment to ensure that our nurses are available to you. Clinic visits are free with the purchase of ostomy and continence products. A consulting fee may apply if products are not purchased. Wound care clinic requires a consulting fee - call for details.
In-Person, Zoom, and Phone Appointments are available
The ostomy nurse will change your ostomy appliance, assess your skin, and determine whether your current ostomy pouching system is working for you. After that, she will answer questions that you may have related to your ostomy, wound, or continence concern.
Lauren graduated from nursing school in 1990 in South Africa. Shortly after, she moved to Canada to be with her family. In 1996, she completed her Intensive Care certificate and worked as an ICU nurse. She developed a passion for wounds and ostomy and attended Emory University to complete her Wound, Ostomy, and Continence certificate in 2006. Following certification, Lauren established the WOCN program at Richmond Hospital. In 2011, she moved to community nursing care, where she expanded her knowledge by caring for individuals with wounds, ostomy, and continence concerns. In 2020, she completed her Master of Clinical Science - Wound Healing, at Western University. In 2016, Lauren joined the Macdonald's Prescriptions team, where she opened the wound, ostomy, and continence clinic. She works both at VGH part-time as a certified WOCN and at Macdonald's prescriptions.
Lauren has been an active participant on the Regional Committees for Wound, Ostomy, and Therapeutic devices and recently joined the Provincial Skin & Wound Committee.
Lauren was the recipient of the CRNBC Award for Nursing Excellence in 2011. Lauren is a dedicated and compassionate wound, ostomy, and continence nurse who strives for excellent patient care. She is passionate about advancing WOC nursing practice and has spoken at conferences and published articles and posters to help educate others.
She volunteers for the United Ostomy Association in facilitating the 20-50's support group and is an active writer for their magazine, the Vancouver Ostomy HighLife (UOAA website).
Janice graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006. She started her career as a surgical nurse on the General and Vascular Surgery Unit at Vancouver General Hospital. Janice went on to complete her Critical Care certificate in 2010 from BCIT and worked as an ICU nurse until 2021. Janice is a very hands-on clinician and works hard to perfect her skills. From taking care of a stoma to a complex wound, Janice made sure the patients received the best quality care with the least amount of discomfort. Janice developed a passion for wound and ostomy care through her various nursing roles in the hospital. She completed the wound, ostomy, and continence specialty nursing program and joined Macdonald’s Prescriptions in 2021. Janice works with the VGH NSWOC team in a full-time position. Janice is fluent in Mandarin and is an advocate for culturally sensitive nursing care in every setting she practices in.
Candy Gubbels has been working at Macdonald's Pharmacy since September 2019 as a Nurse Specialized in Wounds, Ostomy and Continence, and Nurse Practitioner. She completed her Wound, Ostomy, and Continence training from Metropolitan State University in 2002 and graduated as a Family Nurse Practitioner in August 2008 from The University of Victoria. Candy has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She has worked in hospital and long-term care throughout her career. Currently, she works as a Family Nurse Practitioner both as a provider and as a consultant for wound, ostomy, or continence concerns for individuals living in long-term care within Vancouver Coastal Health, in addition to her part-time work at Macdonald's pharmacy.
Candy brings extensive nursing knowledge and experience to her patients. Macdonald's Prescriptions is honoured to have Candy join our team.
Christine began her education at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology genetics. After volunteering at the local hospital, she became interested in Nursing. After graduating, in 1997, she graduated from BCIT with a diploma in Nursing. As a new graduate, she worked in a surgical ward before starting to study again, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Victoria. Christine has worked as a ward nurse and nurse educator. During her career as a nurse, both acute care and community nursing, she discovered her passion for working with wound and ostomy patients. In 2013 Christine completed her Wound, Ostomy, and Continence certification at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Christine is currently a member of the Regional Committees for Wound and Ostomy and the Provincial Ostomy committee. She currently works full-time at Vancouver General Hospital and casual at Macdonald's Prescriptions.
Christine is dedicated and passionate about improving the quality of life for her patients. Macdonald's Prescriptions welcomes Christine's knowledge of both acute and community nursing care to provide a holistic approach for her patients.
Heidi started her nursing career in acute care over ten years ago. To broaden her understanding of the patient's transition through the spectrum of healthcare, Heidi worked as a community health nurse. She confirmed her passion for the nursing specialty of wound and ostomy. Heidi completed the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence education program in Canada and worked as an NSWOC since 2015. As well, Heidi is able to speak Cantonese and Mandarin, where she can utilize her language skills to reach that population in need.
Our NSWOC/WOC nurses bring over 20 years of combined wound, ostomy, and continence experience. We provide private clinic visits to those living with an ostomy, wound, or continence concern and liaise with your medical or surgical team as needed.
