Wound Care Awareness Week
June 3-7
Greetings from the Wound and Hyperbaric Healing Center at Windom Area Health. This is a special week for us as we help raise awareness of chronic wounds. Every year chronic wounds affect approximately 6.7 million people in the U.S. In our communities, one in four of our family members may be affected by non-healing wounds.
Although there are numerous types of non-healing wounds, the most common wounds we treat in our center are infectious wounds, vascular wounds, radiation related wounds and surgical wounds. We offer expert care to expedite the healing process and help our patients get back to living and enjoying life.
The incidence of chronic wounds is on the rise, fueled by an aging population and increasing rates of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity and the late effects of radiation therapy. We work with each patient individually to focus on the wound, how it started and all of the health factors in our patients lives which may contribute to the non-healing state.
In our center we have a dedicated team of physicians, providers, nurses, hyperbaric technologists and support staff. Our team develops a plan for individualized treatment such as specialized wound dressings, debridement, compression therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, advanced cellular products and topical growth factors, edema management and/or invasive vascular assessment.
We work with various departments at Windom Area Health, to help treat non-healing wounds. First off, we work with our Diabetic Educator and Registered Dietitian to improve diabetic control and the nutritional impact on non-healing wounds. Secondly, we work with our vascular partners to identify issues and restore blood flow to the wounds. Lastly, we help patients to focus on their individual health and assist when a lifestyle change may be needed, such as smoking cessation.
If you or someone you care about is affected by a chronic wound, we are here to help you heal and get back to life. Patients can self refer or be referred from their primary physician, surgeon or other providers. Give us a call today at 507-831-0686!
Happy Healing!!
Blog Written By: Nikkie Steen, Program Director for the Wound and Hyperbaric Healing Center at Windom Area Health
