Center for Wound Healing

The expert medical practitioners at the Center for Wound Healing at Jersey Shore University Medical Center provide outpatient treatment and care that not only heals wounds – it heals lives.

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About the Center for Wound Healing

Personal care plans are developed for each patient, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is one of the specialized treatment options offered to promote healing for the most difficult wounds.

Lauding a wound healing rate consistently over 92%, the expert medical practitioners at our center treat the following conditions:

Diabetic ulcers
Arterial/ischemic wounds
Pressure ulcers
Atypical inflammatory/vasculitic wounds
Post-surgical wounds
Radiation soft-tissue injuries and complications
Venous stasis ulcers
Neuropathic ulcers
Traumatic wounds
Vasculitis

When to Seek Treatment

If you are concerned about a wound that may not be healing, seek out a wound care specialist early in order to maximize the chance of completely healing. Some things to look for include:

Wounds that have not made progress to heal in two weeks or completely heal in four weeks (commonly experienced by people with diabetes or vascular issues.)
Sores accompanied by increasing pain, redness or swelling, foul odor, or change in color
Surgical wounds that have become infected

Wound Assessment

Patients are often referred by their primary care physician and based upon the wound location, are assigned to one of the wound panel specialists. (You can also make an appointment directly with the Center to arrange for a consultation.) An initial evaluation of the wound is then conducted to identify the type of wound and any underlying problems causing the wound. Evaluation includes a complete review of the patient’s medical history, overall health, as well as a vascular assessment (possibly with non-invasive tests), to provide more comprehensive data.

Wound size and depth are documented and photographed at the initial visit and then again every four weeks until discharge in order to monitor progress and to provide reports to your physician. Once a treatment plan has been designed, patients will visit the center on a regular basis for specialized treatments and documentation.

Treatment

Comprehensive Healing Plan

Wound healing is a complex process influenced by a number of medical factors. Using a system of thorough diagnostics and regular evaluations of progress, the expert team at the Center for Wound Healing follows the most comprehensive, physician-focused, evidence-based clinical practice, which are the essential steps to healing.

The center uses an interdisciplinary model of care, including infectious-disease management, radiology testing, laboratory evaluation, debridement, pain management, diabetes management, nutritional management, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to address total patient health.

After evaluation, a personalized treatment plan is developed to best meet the needs of the patient. Circulation of blood flow to the wound area, existence of infection, amount of non-viable tissue, and the amount of pain the patient has are all considered when identifying the most effective treatment option.

Treatment Options

Advanced treatment options include:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)
Debridement (define)
Bio-engineered skin grafting
Compression therapy
VAC Therapy (define)
Wound cleansing and advanced dressing selection
Vascular and Arterial Workups/Doppler Studies
Pulse Volume Recordings (PVRs)
Electric Stimulation
Advanced wound healing products

What to Expect

Partner in Care

Our highly-specialized, multi-disciplinary team of wound care specialists, including board certified surgeons, podiatrists, internal medicine physicians and wound care certified registered nurses, understand the underlying causes of non-healing wounds and take pride in utilizing a comprehensive healing approach.

Wound care is a team effort that fully involves the patient, and a vital part of treatment protocol is active patient participation. Our specialists educate and motivate patients to be compliant with their specific plan of care to maximize healing between visits, and patients are responsible for following proper home care which includes dressing changes and protecting the wound from further injury.

What to Bring to Your First Appointment

A list of any medications you are currently taking, as well as any allergies you are aware of
Medical records including x-ray films if you have them
Insurance forms or cards

Environment of Healing

The Center for Wound Healing at Jersey Shore University Medical Center provides you and your guests with small touches that can make a big difference, including individual flat screen televisions in the hyperbaric chambers. Patients can bring in their own movie on DVD, music on a CD, or watch television while receiving treatment in the hyperbaric chamber.