Podcast: Revisiting the Story Behind the Best Practice Recommendations in Wound Care for People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach

Four months after the release of the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations in Wound Care for People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach, this podcast offers an opportunity to revisit not just what was created—but why it was created, and how.

Listen to the episode on Spotify

Developed by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®) in partnership with the Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA) and the Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs (ONPUD), the Best Practice Recommendations (BPRs) marked a significant step forward in advancing more inclusive, evidence-informed wound care. While the document itself was officially launched in December 2025, this podcast—recorded prior to its release—captures the intention, care, and collaboration that shaped its development from the very beginning.

As shared by Corey Ranger, Andrzej Celinski, Priyanka Jani, and Lili Berescu, this work was never intended to be developed quickly. Instead, it was approached with intention—ensuring that all voices were heard, particularly those with lived and living experience, and that the process itself reflected the same principles of harm reduction that the document promotes.

The panelists reflect on the time, collaboration, and thoughtfulness required to create guidance that is not only clinically sound, but also compassionate, equitable, and grounded in real-world practice.

Throughout the podcast, it becomes clear that these BPRs are more than a clinical resource—they represent a shift in how care is understood and delivered. Rooted in harm reduction, the recommendations position wound care as a critical point of connection: an opportunity to build trust, reduce stigma, and engage individuals who may otherwise be excluded from traditional healthcare systems. This intention is echoed across the discussion, with speakers emphasizing the importance of meeting people where they are, without judgment, and recognizing the broader social and structural factors that influence health.

The conversation also reinforces the collaborative and inclusive model that defined the development of the BPRs. By bringing together clinicians, researchers, and individuals with lived experience through partnerships with HRNA and ONPUD, the recommendations reflect both clinical expertise and community insight. This approach—also highlighted in the original launch—ensures that the guidance is not only evidence-based, but meaningful, practical, and responsive to the needs of those it is designed to support.

Importantly, the podcast looks ahead as much as it looks back. The speakers describe the BPRs as a starting point—an evolving resource meant to be applied, adapted, and built upon over time. Together, the podcast and the document underscore a shared goal: to advance more compassionate, person-centred care and to continue pushing the boundaries of what equitable healthcare can and should look like.

Access the Best Practice Recommendations

The Canadian Best Practice Recommendations in Wound Care for People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach are now available online.

We encourage all clinicians, educators, and healthcare leaders to explore the document and consider how these recommendations can be applied within their own practice and organizations:

• Review the full Best Practice Recommendations

• Share the resource with your team and colleagues

• Integrate harm reduction principles into your wound care practice

Access the BPRs here: https://nswoc.ca/bpr#wound-care-pwud

Together, by revisiting this work and continuing the conversation, we can build on its foundation and advance safer, more inclusive, and more compassionate care for people who use drugs across Canada.

Canadian Best Practice Recommendations in Wound Care for People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach

---

Speakers Featured in the Podcast

The podcast brings together a thoughtful and well-rounded group of speakers whose perspectives reflect the intersection of clinical practice, advocacy, education, and lived experience in harm reduction.

Corey Ranger, President of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA), brings a strong national leadership voice grounded in frontline nursing practice. With over a decade of experience in street outreach, community, and public health settings, Corey has been deeply engaged in harm reduction work since 2013. In the discussion, he speaks to the evolution of harm reduction within healthcare systems, emphasizing the need for nurses and interdisciplinary teams to adopt flexible, patient-centered approaches. He highlights how integrating harm reduction into wound care is not only practical, but essential to improving access, building trust, and reducing preventable complications among underserved populations.

Andrzej Celinski, a member of the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs (CAPUD), contributes a critical and deeply reflective perspective shaped by both lived and learned experience. With academic training in environmental studies and urban planning from York University, Andrzej situates harm reduction within broader systems—particularly housing, urban infrastructure, and public policy. In the podcast, he challenges listeners to consider how drug prohibition and structural inequities create and sustain harm, while advocating for approaches that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and community-led solutions. His insights reinforce the importance of including people with lived experience in the development of best practice recommendations.

Priyanka Jani brings a dynamic blend of clinical experience and grassroots advocacy to the conversation. As a nurse who has worked across long-term care, public health, and community settings in Hamilton and Kitchener, Priyanka has developed a strong foundation in supporting diverse and often underserved populations. Her work as a Consumption Treatment Service (CTS) nurse with Sanguen Health Centre, along with her leadership role on the Board of Directors of the Student Overdose Prevention Education Network (SOPEN), has positioned her at the forefront of harm reduction education and outreach. In the podcast, she speaks to the importance of meeting patients where they are and ensuring that wound, ostomy, and continence care is accessible, equitable, and responsive to the realities of people who use drugs and those experiencing housing insecurity.

Lili Berescu offers a deeply community-rooted perspective informed by years of practice in the Waterloo region. As an NSWOC and WOCC(C)-certified nurse, Lili has worked across a range of settings including Consumption Treatment Services, public health, outreach programs, and safer supply initiatives. Their experience in various health settings has provided unique insight into the complexities of delivering care in harm reduction environments. In the discussion, Lili emphasizes the importance of creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals feel heard and respected, and highlights how integrating harm reduction principles into everyday nursing practice can strengthen relationships, improve outcomes, and support more compassionate systems of care.