Wound Care

Wounds that are hard to heal or non-healing may result from pressure, trauma, or infection. Sometimes the simplest wounds can turn into significant problems due to underlying conditions such as diabetes, circulation problems, or other medical treatments such as radiation. Since non-healing wounds rarely result from a single cause, wound care services focus upon wholistic patient centered treatment. Our team of experiences wound care specialists will assess your symptoms, determine the underlying cause, and customize a treatment plan to stimulate healing.

The center treats all acute or chronic wounds, especially those difficult to heal, including but not limited to:

• Abscesses
• Arterial ulcers
• Burn injuries
• Compromised skin grafts or flaps
• Crush injuries
• Diabetic ulcers
• Neuropathic wounds
• Pressure ulcers
• Radiation injuries
• Refractory osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Surgical wounds
• Trauma wounds
• Vasculitic ulcers

At Roane General Hospital, we strive to provide patient centered care and focus upon patient experience not just the wound. The patient experience includes a detailed history and assessment, individualized treatment plan, and coordination of care with appropriate services and specialties in a multidisciplinary approach. The team focuses also assesses and works to resolve any social determinants that may affect program participation and completion. Our team accesses specialists to support the treatment plan and may refer patients to regional Restorix centers for hyperbaric treatment. We also work in support of the patient’s primary care physician, making communication a top priority. Treatment plans may also include the following:

• Conventional and advanced wound dressings
• Antibiotic therapy
• Nutritional counseling
• Education and prevention techniques
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy referrals
• Infection control
• Restoration of blood flow
• Debridement (removal of dead tissue)
• Offloading
• Skin substitutes
• Compression therapy
• Skin graft or flap

Program Outcomes

The wound care center at Roane General Hospital has a healing rate of 100 percent with a median time to healing of 21 days. Both of which are above the benchmark of 90 percent for healing rate and an average of 32 days to heal. The treatment team led by a registered nurse and nurse practitioner receive high patient satisfaction scores with most recent scores at 99 percent.

Facts about Chronic Wounds and Their Treatment

· Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S., with treatment costs approaching $20 billion annually.

· The most common chronic wounds involve the skin and soft tissue, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers.

· Individuals with diabetes often develop extremity ulcers at an incidence of 2 percent per year and account for most of the foot and leg amputations in the United States.

· According to the National Institutes of Health, hyperbaric oxygen treatment is cost-effective compared with standard care, and the 12-year cost for patients receiving HBOT was $40,695, compared with $49,786 for standard care alone. Outcomes were 3.64 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for those receiving HBOT and 3.01 QALYs for controls.

How to Make a Referral

To make a referral to the Roane General Hospital Wound Center, fax a completed patient referral form to (need the number). You may also call 304-927-7114 or email the form to Referrals@RestorixHealth.com. As a referring physician, you will be consulted regarding the proposed care plan for the patient. Please send all of the patient’s recent diagnostic studies and care notes for use in his/her evaluation. Most treatments are covered by Medicare/Medicaid, HMOs, and other private insurance,

depending upon the type of wound and authorization is obtained via the referral office for services rendered.

What Can Our Wound Care Patients Expect?

Your course of treatment depends on what type of wound you have. During your first visit, our staff will evaluate your wound and review your medical history. You may also need special tests that give us information about circulation and infection. This will help to determine what course of treatment you will need. Once a treatment plan has been prescribed, you will visit the wound healing center weekly for specialized treatments and documentation of your healing progress. Keeping appointments and following directions are critical to attaining a positive healing outcome. Some things you can do to assist with your healing:

· Care for your wound at home as directed by the wound care team

· Take medications as directed

· Return for your follow-up appointments