When to Seek Specialized Wound Care

Not all wounds require care in a wound treatment center, but many do, especially if they are not healing within three to four weeks. If you are diabetic, have limited mobility or have venous or peripheral vascular disease, you have a higher risk for developing non-healing skin ulcerations. Wound clinics apply advanced wound treatments to help heal your wounds and, in some cases, prevent amputations.

If you meet any of these criteria, you will benefit from specialized wound care:

• You can see exposed bone, tendon or muscles
• The bone is infected (osteomyelitis)
• You have had radiation treatment on the same part of the body where the wound is
• You have open sores related to prolonged pressure

Treatment Options

These are some of the services offered at our Wound Treatment Centers:

• Testing - Our wound care team may order tests to identify the root cause of your wound and help with treatment planning.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy - A specialized treatment for wounds that meet certain criteria. The patient breathes 100 percent oxygen inside a pressurized chamber for faster healing.
• Debridement - Removing dead, damaged or infected tissue to help the remaining healthy tissue heal.
• Dressings - Help selecting the right type of dressing for your wound (lacerations, puncture wounds, gun wounds, burn wounds or a deep gash).
• Medications - Some medications may help your wound heal. This may include prescribed ointments to keep the wound bed moist, help break down unwanted tissue or protect against microbes.
• Patient education – Our team will teach you how to care for your wounds at home. This includes healthy eating, cleaning and dressing the wound, exercises to increase blood circulation and range of motion and proper skin care.
• Specialists – Our team will arrange for you to see providers who specialize in fields like podiatry, infectious disease, or cardiovascular care to address other factors that can impact healing. They will also work with your primary care provider to help you control your blood sugar if you are diabetic.

Rachel Kerttu, A.G.N.P.-B.C., M.S.N. specializes in Family Medicine and Wound Care. She works at MyMichigan Family Medicine in Midland and at the Wound Treatment Center in Clare. For more information on MyMichigan’s Wound Treatment Centers, visit www.mymichigan.org/woundcenter.