Frequently Asked Questions

When should you seek treatment for your wound at our Wound Healing Center?

You have had a sore that won't heal for more than 30 days (commonly experienced by people with diabetes).
You have a sore with increasing pain, redness or swelling, foul odor or a change in color.
You have a surgical wound that has become infected.

What type of patients do we see?

Patients age 14 and up.
Patients with surgical wounds, diabetes, chronic wounds on the feet and toes, or that have wounds that have not healed in the normal fashion and may need more intensive therapy or treatment.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

A list of any medications you're currently taking, including vitamins and supplements
A written list of allergies you may have
Medical records including x-ray, MRI and CT reports if you have them
Insurance forms or cards

What’s my role in healing?

Much of the success of your treatment depends on you. We’ll count on you to follow directions carefully and watch your progress closely. You will learn about caring for your wound at home including how to change dressings and how to protect yourself from further injuries. We’re always here to answer questions and give you the support you need to heal.

How long does it take to heal a wound?

The time for a wound to heal varies with the patient, it could be 14 weeks or longer depending upon how well their wounds respond to the course of treatment.

What wound healing options are available here?

At the Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center, you’ll receive the right treatment to heal your wound. Your wound care physician may prescribe some of these therapies:

Debridement (removal of dead or damaged tissue)
Specially chosen dressings and wraps
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Bio-engineered tissue substitutes

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) ?

Breathing 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure is a painless, proven way to help the body heal. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers work by surrounding the patient with 100% oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure in sessions that last 90 minutes to two hours. This increases the amount of oxygen in the patient's blood, allowing red blood cells to pass more easily through the plasma into the wounds to heal them from the inside out. Introduced in the mid-'60s, HBO chambers have evolved to treat patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, compromised skin grafts and flaps, and wounds that have not shown measurable signs of healing for at least 30 days of treatment with standard wound therapy. Weighing more than one ton each, the HBO chambers resemble a reclining bed encased in a clear acrylic shell nearly a yard in diameter. Patients can listen to music or watch television that are mounted above the chamber while remaining in constant contact with those outside the chamber through an intercom and private handset. The only physical sensation resulting from the treatment is a slight pressure on the eardrum, such as that felt when a plane lands, as the air in the chamber is compressed.

Some of the chronic wounds and wound etiologies that can be effectively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy are listed below. The Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center follows the guidelines of the Centers for Medicine & Medicaid Services for FDA-approved conditions that can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency (can lead to ulcers and other non-healing wounds)
Compromised skin grafts and skin flaps
Chronic refractory osteomyelitis (persistent bone infection)
Osteoradionecrosis (bone injury caused by radiation therapy)
Soft tissue radionecrosis (tissue damage caused by radiation)
Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities—especially chronic foot ulcers - that are classified as Wagner grade 3 or higher