Porter's Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center Helps Patients With Chronic Non-Healing Wounds Get Back to Life

4/27/2017

6.7 million people in the U.S. have non-healing wounds & the number is growing

Imagine having an open foot ulcer that just won't heal … Or a painful sore on your abdomen after surgery that becomes infected. These are just some of the types of non-healing wounds seen daily at Porter's Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center. The Center provides advanced, specialized therapy for chronic, non-healing wounds that need extra help to heal so patients can return to their daily life activities.

"We see patients living with non-healing wounds for a prolonged period of time due to the lack of awareness of advanced wound care options. That's why it's important to educate our community that when someone has a wound that doesn't heal within 30 days, there's likely something more serious going on and they should see us," explains Michael Woods, M.D., the Center's Outpatient Medical Director. "We have more than 500 patient visits a month and that number is growing due to the population aging and the increased rates of diabetes, obesity, and cancer treatment side effects. If left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life and possibly amputation of an affected limb."

Not only is Porter one of the few places in Northwest Indiana that offers wound care and hyperbaric medicine in the same facility, but the facility's physicians and nurses are specially trained and certified in advanced wound care, shares Greg Zorich, the Center's Program Director. "Our center produces a consistent record of successful outcomes - well above the national benchmark," Zorich says.

Dr. Woods adds that the center has two general surgeons, two emergency room doctors, and two family medicine physicians. "We each bring a unique angle from our specialties, which contribute to the specialized care we provide to our patients."

Some of the modalities used at the Center include advanced wound dressings, bioengineered skin substitutes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. During a hyperbaric treatment, a patient lies in a special pressurized chamber of pure oxygen and breathes normally, which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. "Our staff creates a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient's needs," Zorich says.

Dr. Woods says there are multiple causes for non-healing wounds, but cites infection, vascular concerns, diabetes, lingering effects of radiation treatments, and excessive pressure to the skin and underlying tissue as top concerns.

"We look deeper than the wound's surface," he says. "We evaluate for infection, artery and vein problems, look at the patient's nutritional status and, in some cases when treating pressure ulcers, even the home to ensure the environment is adequate for proper healing."

The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center relocated to the Valparaiso Medical Center at 2000 Roosevelt Road in late 2015 and offers eight spacious treatment rooms and two advanced hyperbaric chambers.

The move was part of Porter's ongoing efforts to make the outpatient services most needed by the community easily accessible. "I know our patients appreciate our new location," comments Adam Conn, M.D., Inpatient Wound Care Medical Director at the Center. "Not only is it easy to park at the Valparaiso Medical Center, our physical space is so much larger than our previous location, which makes our patients more comfortable."

In addition, Dr. Woods says the new location has helped the center facilitate faster healing rates. "Wound care is a multidisciplinary approach and we seek input from a lot of different specialists," he explains. "Having specialists located here at the Valparaiso Medical Center not only is convenient for the patients, it expedites valuable input in developing a treatment plan. An effective treatment plan will, in turn, accelerate the healing process."

To learn more about the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center visit PorterHealth.com/WoundCare, or to schedule an appointment call (219) 263-7240.

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