The Ostomy Associations of Southern California (OASC) are a group of independent ostomy support groups that share this website. Most of the groups were Affiliated Chapters of the United Ostomy Association (UOA), until it dissolved in September, 2005. Some of the groups are now affiliated with the new United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA).

An ostomy support group is a non-profit organization of volunteers devoted to the rehabilitation of persons who have undergone intestinal or bladder surgery resulting in ostomies (colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy) or alternate procedures (J-pouch, pull-through).

The groups provide visitors for new patients, and mutual aid and information for all patients, whether group members or not. Most publish a newsletter and hold meetings. Detailed information on each group can be obtained by visiting the group's sub-website. These are available by clicking the name of the group of interest in the red navigation bar at the left. The groups share this website to promote communication among their leaders and members, and to provide a point for patients and others to visit to find a support group near them. Each group has one or more web pages on its sub-website.

Current groups are: Ostomy Support Group of North San Diego County and Ostomy Association of San Diego. Click the group's name here or in the red bar on the left under "GROUPS" to visit that particular group's Home Page.

To read or download a copy of the new San Diego Group Poster, click here (PDF file).

Ostomy care guides, in both English and Spanish, are available for reading, printing, and/or downloading on the Documents Page of this site. The Links Page has active web links to other organizations involved in ostomy rehabilitation. General contact information is available on the Contact Us Page, and more specific group information on most group pages. To view any of these pages, simply click the appropriate page name in either location in the red navigation bar at the left.

Summer Travel: The UOAA Ostomate's Travel Card is now posted on the Documents Page. Look well down on the page for "Reference Cards"; the Travel Card is immediately below. Simply click its picture or name, print the PDF file on card stock, then cut and prepare the card to carry with you. It could save you much trouble going through airport security, etc.

Ostomy Support Groups: If you would like to have a Home Page (or more) on this website, click here to go to a page where you can fill in the basic information needed to start your page, or get in touch with us by email: info@ostomysocal.org.