International Skin Tear Advisory Panel

What International Skin Tear Advisory Panel does

The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) is a non-profit, virtual professional advisory organization founded in 2011 by Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc (Canada) and Sharon Baranoski (USA). Operating as an Official Interest Group of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) since January 2016, ISTAP develops and disseminates evidence-based clinical standards, decision-support tools, and educational resources for the prediction, prevention, assessment, classification, and management of skin tears. Its core IP consists of the ISTAP Skin Tear Classification System (available in 15 languages), a validated Data Collection Tool (DC-Tool), standardized clinical pathways (Risk Assessment Pathway, Pathway to Assessment/Treatment, Decision Algorithm), and a library of Best Practice Recommendations covering aged skin and dementia populations, plus a culturally adapted Indigenous Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit.

ISTAP serves a global community of 6,037 healthcare professionals (as of April 2026) across 7 regions — Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and North America — distributed via 20+ International Official Partners (EWMA, WCET, Wounds Australia, WOCN, GNEAUPP, MSWCP, SOBEST, SKINT Ghent, etc.). Membership is free; the organization generates no membership or product revenue, instead funding its operations through a small set of corporate sponsorships (Essity, Smith+Nephew, Urgo Medical, and PAUL HARTMANN AG from 2026) and partner-driven event delivery. Annual engagement anchors include World Without Skin Tears Day (a virtual event with live translation in 19 languages, 1,825 registrants in 2026), quarterly ISTAP Communiqué newsletters, and co-produced webinars with EWMA, WCET, NSWOCC, and Accelerate CIC. The organization is governed by a Board comprising executive officers and regional directors, with no venture capital or private equity involvement.

Name

International Skin Tear Advisory Panel

Legal name

International Skin Tear Advisory Panel

Website

https://skintears.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) is a non-profit, virtual clinical advisory organization that develops evidence-based classification systems, guidelines, and decision-support tools for skin tear prevention and management, serving over 6,000 healthcare professionals across seven global regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wound Care Clinical Guidelines and Education

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAIADAM

First Aid & Wound Care

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

Keywords

• Clinical guidelines
• Wound care education
• Skin tear prevention
• Evidence-based practice
• Healthcare professional resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ISTAP membership is free for healthcare professionals and supporters worldwide. Membership provides access to exclusive resources, publications, the quarterly ISTAP Communiqué newsletter, educational webinars, and invitations to events.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate partners including Essity, Smith+Nephew, and Urgo Medical support the development and production of educational resources and guidelines. HARTMANN (PAUL HARTMANN AG) became a Corporate Partner for 2026-2027.
3. Educational Event Proceeds: ISTAP hosts free virtual educational events including World Without Skin Tears Day, webinars, and AGMs. These events are supported by corporate partners and international official partners, with certificates of attendance provided to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISTAP is a non-profit professional advisory organization that develops and disseminates evidence-based clinical guidelines, a standardized Skin Tear Classification System, validated assessment and decision-support tools, and best practice recommendations for healthcare professionals worldwide. It operates a free membership community of more than 6,000 clinicians across 7 regions, supported by an annual global virtual educational event (World Without Skin Tears Day), a quarterly newsletter, webinars, and corporate-funded educational resources.

Product overview

ISTAP (International Skin Tear Advisory Panel) is an interprofessional collaboration and advisory organization — not a software product company — dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals at risk of or experiencing skin tears through education, research, and advocacy. Its portfolio consists of clinical assessment and decision-support tools (the Skin Tear Tool Kit, Risk Assessment Pathway, Pathway to Assessment/Treatment, Decision Algorithm, and the ISTAP Skin Tear Classification system), supplementary clinical resources (the Indigenous Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit for Indigenous Skin Tones, the ISTAP Data Collection Tool), and published guidelines and educational materials (Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Skin Tears in Aged Skin, Best Practice Recommendations for Understanding Dementia and Skin Tears, and the Made Easy summary guide). Additionally, ISTAP offers awareness and communication resources including the ISTAP Flyer, Brochure, Communiqué newsletter, Patient Photo Consent Forms, and the Skin Frailty & Skin Tears Resource Hub developed in partnership with EWMA. Its flagship annual event is World Without Skin Tears Day. All products are provided as downloadable PDF resources and are free to access for members and the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISTAP Skin Tear Tool Kit A comprehensive clinical toolkit offering standardized guidance on skin tear classification, prevention, and treatment protocols for healthcare professionals across care settings; available in full-colour and printer-friendly formats.
• ISTAP Risk Assessment Pathway A structured clinical pathway guiding clinicians through risk assessment for skin tears and supporting early identification of at-risk individuals across care settings; available in full-colour and printer-friendly formats.
• ISTAP Pathway to Assessment and Treatment A clinical decision-support pathway guiding clinicians through the assessment and treatment of skin tears, from initial evaluation through management and follow-up.
• ISTAP Decision Algorithm A clinical decision algorithm providing step-by-step guidance on the assessment, classification, and appropriate treatment selection for skin tears; available in full-colour and printer-friendly formats.
• ISTAP Skin Tear Classification System ISTAP's standardized classification system for identifying and documenting skin tears, providing a common clinical language for skin tear classification and reporting; available in 15 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
• ISTAP Data Collection Tool (DC-Tool) A validated data collection instrument for accurate, standardised tracking of skin tears in clinical practice, quality improvement projects, and research; validated through a multi-method process in 2024 and globally accessible.
• Indigenous Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit for Indigenous Skin Tones An evidence-based toolkit developed collaboratively with NSWOCC to support culturally safe, equitable, and person-centred skin tear assessment and management for Indigenous Peoples across Canada, comprising the ISTAP Indigenous Skin Tear Decision Algorithm, Risk Assessment Pathway, and Assessment and Treatment Pathway.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Skin Tears in Aged Skin (2nd Edition) Updated clinical guidelines providing evidence-based best practice recommendations for the prevention, assessment, classification, and treatment of skin tears in aged skin, with expanded focus on inclusivity, skin tone, and dementia care; developed with NSWOCC and WOCN.
• Best Practice Recommendations for Understanding Dementia and Skin Tears Best practice guidance addressing the intersecting factors between dementia and skin tears, providing risk reduction, treatment, and communication recommendations for individuals with dementia; published April 8, 2026.
• Made Easy: The Prevention and Management of Skin Tears in Aged Skin A concise and accessible summary guide of the 2025 Best Practice Recommendations, offering practical takeaways on definitions, risk factors, prevention, assessment/classification, skin care, and wound management in aged skin.
• ISTAP Communiqué Quarterly Newsletter A quarterly newsletter providing global updates on skin tear research, expert insights, partner news, and organizational announcements, distributed to ISTAP members.
• World Without Skin Tears Day An annual global virtual educational event hosted by ISTAP, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, caregivers, and advocates worldwide to discuss skin tear prevention and management; the 2026 edition attracted 1,825 registrants across 10+ countries with live translation in 19 languages.
• Skin Frailty and Skin Tears Resource Hub A joint EWMA-ISTAP educational hub featuring animated patient experience videos, expert interview series, case studies, and resources on neonate and paediatric skin tears; supported by Essity and Clinimed.
• Patient Photo Consent and Release Forms A set of three standardized consent forms required for ethical submission of skin tear photographs — Patient or Legal Representative Consent, Healthcare Provider Confirmation, and Submitter Consent — protecting patient rights and ensuring ISTAP compliance with consent terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 million estimated skin tear cases per year globally with rising incidence
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Wounds AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024A five-year partnership announced in September 2024 to achieve greater awareness of skin tears and improve healthcare system performance and patient outcomes. Activities include co-produced learning events, biennial knowledge-sharing sessions, and contributions to national conferences.
• Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn January 2016, ISTAP officially became an Official Interest Group of NSWOCC. This 10-year partnership has advanced skin tear awareness, prevention, assessment, and treatment globally. NSWOCC collaborated with ISTAP on the 2025 Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Skin Tears in Aged Skin (2nd edition) and the 2026 Indigenous Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit.
• European Wound Management Association (EWMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTAP became an Official International Partner in December 2018. EWMA serves as an Official Interest Group of ISTAP. Collaborations include EWMA-ISTAP webinar series on 'The Science and Practice of Skin Tears', joint special issue of the Journal of Wound Management, and Skin Tear Focus Sessions at EWMA conferences.
• World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerISTAP is an international partner of WCET and participates in joint congresses including WCET-NSWOCC 2026 Joint Congress in Vancouver. Collaborations include free educational webinars such as the ISTAP & WCET Webinar on Skin Health and Skin Tears (June 26, 2025).
• EssitycoreOthersLong-standing corporate partner supporting ISTAP's vision of a World Without Skin Tears. Essity has supported the Living with Skin Frailty & Skin Tears initiative, Best Practice Recommendations publications, and various educational resources through Leukoplast brand products.
• PAUL HARTMANN AG (LINK for Wound Healing)secondaryOthersNew corporate partner for 2026-2027 announced at the 2026 AGM. The partnership will support ISTAP's initiatives and vision through the LINK for Wound Healing platform.
• Accelerate CICsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2023. Collaborated on educational webinar series including 'Back to Basic Skin Care', 'Skin Tears: Cleansing, classification and management', and 'The Role of Mild Compression in Lower Limb Skin Tears' in early 2024.
• Alliance for Research and Innovation in Wounds (ARIW)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021, based at NUI Galway.
• Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2023.
• Commonwealth Wound Care Resource Alliance (CWCRA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2022.
• Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of HuddersfieldsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• Legs MattersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021, UK-based wound care advocacy organization.
• Malaysian Society of Wound Care Professionals (MSWCP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• SOBEST (Brazil)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021, Brazilian wound care association.
• Skin Integrity Research Group (SKINT), Ghent UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021, research group focused on skin integrity.
• Spanish Pressure Ulcer and Chronic Wounds Advisory Group (GNEAUPP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• Swedish Centre for Skin and Wound Research (SCENTR)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• Society of Tissue Viability (TVS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021, previously known as TVS.
• Welsh Wound Innovation Centre (WWIC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• World Union of Wound Healing Society (WUWHS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2019.
• Wound Healing Association of South Africa (WHASA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2021.
• Wound Innovations (Australia)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since March 2024.
• Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2023. Collaborated on the 2025 Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Skin Tears in Aged Skin (2nd edition).
• Yara Ostomi İnkontinans Hemşireleri Derneği (YOİHD), TürkiyesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2022, Turkish Wound, Ostomy and Incontinence Nurses' Society.
• Journal of Wound Care/WUWHS AwardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner since 2019 for awards recognition.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN): US professional nursing society for wound, ostomy, and continence care; ISTAP official partner since 2023 and co-developer of the 2nd-edition BPR. Closely aligned mission and membership overlap.
• Wounds Australia: Australia's peak national wound-care body; ISTAP entered a 5-year partnership with Wounds Australia in September 2024. Both publish best-practice guidance, run educational events, and target nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals in wound management.
• World Union of Wound Healing Society (WUWHS): Global wound-healing society; ISTAP has been an official partner since 2019 and WUWHS partners on awards recognition. Both operate as international membership bodies advancing wound-care science, education, and clinical standards.
• Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC): ISTAP's parent organization since 2016 — NSWOCC is the Canadian specialty nursing body for wound, ostomy, and continence care. Most directly comparable as a clinical specialty association producing guidelines, education, and certification for nurses.
• European Wound Management Association (EWMA): Pan-European wound-care professional association; ISTAP is an official partner and EWMA-ISTAP co-produces webinars, journal special issues, and conference focus sessions. Both serve wound-care clinicians with guidelines, education, and events — closely aligned mission and member base.
• World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET): International organization for enterostomal therapy nurses; ISTAP international partner and joint congress participant. Comparable as a specialty nursing society producing education and clinical standards globally.
• Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC): US-based multidisciplinary wound-care organization; ISTAP official partner since 2023. Both serve as professional communities advancing wound-care research, education, and clinical guidelines for healthcare providers.
• Society of Tissue Viability (TVS): UK-based tissue viability nursing organization; ISTAP official partner since 2021. Both focus on skin integrity, wound prevention, and clinical education for nurses and allied health professionals.

Regional players

• Wound Healing Association of South Africa (WHASA): South African wound-care professional body; ISTAP official partner since 2021. Comparable function: regional wound-care society producing educational content and clinical guidance for healthcare professionals.
• Spanish Pressure Ulcer and Chronic Wounds Advisory Group (GNEAUPP): Spain-focused wound-care advisory body; ISTAP official partner since 2021. Similar role at a national level — producing guidelines, hosting congresses, and educating clinicians on chronic wounds including skin integrity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SkinTears
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-skin-tear-advisory-panel-istap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Skin Tear Advisory Panel