• About the Center

• About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

• Hyperbaric Treatment Guidelines

• Treatment Options   

• Who needs Wound Care?

• Wound Center Physicians and Staff

• FAQ
   

About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy—the use of 100% oxygen under pressure to promote healing—works because it quickly delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the bloodstream, accelerating the healing rate of wounds. It also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, which improves circulation. 

Hyperbaric therapy is indicated for about 20% of wound care patients- your treating physician will advise whether or not it is appropriate in your case. The average course of treatment lasts for 25 consecutive days (excluding weekends). Hyperbaric therapy is painless and does not require pain medication.

There are five primary diagnoses for which hyperbaric therapy is indicated in a wound care center setting:

• Compromised skin grafts or flaps
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Ischemic wounds (insufficient blood flow to tissue)
• Radiation necrosis (caused by radiation therapy)
• Refractory Osteomyelitis (infection of bone)

Hyperbaric Treatment Guidelines

For safety reasons, certain items are not allowed inside the hyperbaric chambers. Please do not wear or bring the following into the chamber during your treatment: 

• Makeup
• Perfume
• Aftershave
• Hairspray/hair oils
• Wigs/hairpieces
• Nail polish
• Alcohol- or petroleum-based products
• Metallic items of any kind (jewelry, watches, coins, etc.)
• Flammable materials
• Hearing aids
• Glasses

Ask your hyperbaric physician for advice about wearing contact lenses during treatment

You should also refrain from smoking during the course of your treatment, as tobacco use will prolong the healing process, constricting blood vessels in your body. 

When you arrive for treatment you will be provided with 100% cotton garments to wear.

Treatment Options

Treatments involve research-based, best clinical practice wound care management, including.

• Debridement (removal of dead tissue)
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Ostomy-related skin and wound care                         
• Skin replacement (bio-engineered tissue)                          
• Vacuum-assisted wound closure

Patients undergoing wound treatment at the center receive topical and/or oral pain medication if necessary (excluding hyperbaric treatment, which is painless). Each patient’s wound-healing progress is tracked by the web-based WoundStar® program, which measures and photographs the wound weekly from the beginning of treatment to completion, so progress can be precisely monitored. Every patient who begins treatment at the wound center receives a complete history and physical, and each patient’s condition is considered in a holistic manner, since healing will only take place if patients eat well and have other medical concerns under control.

About the Center

Who needs Wound Care?

At any given time almost six million Americans suffer from problem wounds. There are many different types of wounds. A surprising number of people require wound care at some point in their lives. A minimum of 15% of patients with diabetes will have a chronic, non-healing wound during their lifetimes. Individuals without diabetes may also experience a non-healing wound for other reasons, such as radiation therapy, trauma or due to other medical conditions. The Wound Care Center’s management model involves treatment for a wide variety of wounds, including:

• Bone necrosis
• Brown recluse spider bites
•  Chronic non-healing wounds
• Compromised skin grafts and flaps
• Decubitus ulcers (pressure sores or bedsores)
• Diabetic foot and leg ulcers
• Diabetic wounds
• Gangrene
• Ischemic wounds (wounds with no blood supply)
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Ostomy-related skin problems and wounds
• Peripheral vascular disease and circulatory-related wounds
• Radio necrosis (tissue damage due to radiation therapy)
• Refractory osteomyelitis (recurrent bone infection)
• Soft tissue necrosis (death of muscle or skin tissue)
• Traumatic wounds