NORTHERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Northern Wound Care

The Wound Care Center at Northern Regional Hospital is an outpatient, hospital-affiliated program to provide treatment for problem wounds.

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About Northern Wound Care

Patients are referred by their primary care or other specialty physician.

The program operates by appointment. A state-of-the-art facility, the Center provides the most advanced therapies and the latest clinical modalities to treat problem wounds.

Incidences of problem wounds are on the rise due largely to an aging population and an increase in diabetes. For example, approximately 18.5 million Americans have diabetes and, of that population, about 1.8 million will suffer from a problem wound.  For most people, cuts and scratches heal within days or weeks. But for those whose natural healing process is hampered, a simple sore can become a complex medical problem. Without proper treatment, these problem wounds can hamper physical activity, quality of life and, in some cases, be debilitating.

Services/Treatment

The Center employs the most technologically advanced wound care therapy. There are multiple diagnostic and treatment modalities depending on the situation. These include:

  • Arterial insufficiency
  • Venous insufficiency
  • Burns
  • Insect bites
  • Chronic wounds
  • Surgical wounds
  • Pyoderma gangrenosum
  • Pressure ulcers

Services:

  • Comprehensive wound evaluation and non-invasive vascular assessment
  • Advanced dressing application, including bioengineered wound dressings
  • Compression therapy
  • Initiation of pressure reducing bed, overlays, wheelchair cushions, and shoes
  • Treatment of Lymphedema with Complete Decongestive Therapy

Modalities:

  • Pulsatile lavage
  • Low frequency ultrasonic debridement
  • Ultraviolet-C
  • Negative pressure therapy
  • Sharp debridement
  • Total contact casting
  • UltraMIST ultrasound healing therapy
  • Pressure ulcers
  • Diabetic ulcers
  • Traumatic wounds
  • Neuropathic ulcers
  • Skin abscesses
  • Atypical wounds
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa

FAQs

If you have a wound, cover it. It is important to contact your healthcare provider to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

No, unless instructed by your doctor you should not get your wound wet. Do not “soak” your wound. Taking a shower with open wounds increases risk of contamination and potential infection.

It is important to monitor your skin closely for changes. Any changes or concerns should be reported to your healthcare provider.

Yes, skin that is kept moist is less likely to break down. But do not put skin lotion in the wound. If you have skin that is broken open, please ask the doctor for a recommended product.

Any kind of lotion that is an emollient, which puts moisture back into the skin instead of covering the skin as another layer. Do not use petroleum jelly, because it forms a separate layer. Examples of emollients that may be used are: Curel Moisturizing, Nivea, Neutrogena, A&D ointment, Vitamin A&D, Eucerin Moisturizing, Keri Lotion and Lubriderm.

Yes, it is very important. High blood sugar can slow down or prevent wound healing. Discuss with your wound care doctor what a good goal for your blood sugar level would be.

Please inform your doctor of any of the following:
  • Pain from your wound
  • Increase in drainage from your wound
  • High blood sugar if you are diabetic
  • Redness in the skin around your wound
  • Bleeding from your wound
  • Changes in your body temperature, blood pressure or mental orientation
  • Need for dressing supplies
  • Any new wounds you find on your body
  • Any changes in your medications
  • Difficulty in completing the prescribed dressing changes
  • Any questions or concerns you have about your wound care!
Any wound that has not started to heal in two weeks or is not completely healed in six weeks may benefit from a specialized wound care center. Ask your regular physician if The Wound Care Center at Northern Regional Hospital might be the right option for you.