Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center
Wound Care
Some five million Americans develop chronic wounds each year as a result of diabetes, vascular disease, radiation therapy and other conditions that may compromise the body’s ability to carry out the normal healing process. In some cases, these wounds take weeks, months, even years to fully heal, dramatically affecting the quality of life.
For many patients, persistent or unidentifiable wounds can be cause for concern. Fortunately, Terrebonne General offers the most comprehensive wound care treatment program in the region at the TGMC Wound Care Clinic. The clinic had an experienced team that consists of a medical director and certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse who offer state-of-the -art methods and approaches for treating problem wounds. The Wound Care Clinic is equipped with the latest technological advancements that can accelerate the healing process, reduce the risk for infection and help patients avoid hospitalization.
From referral to treatment.
Most patients that seek treatment at the Wound Care Clinic have some sort of complication with a wound and can either be referred by a physician or seek treatment on their own. The patient’s underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, poor circulation or heart disease are major contributing factors to treating wounds.
When a patient is first referred to the Wound Care Clinic, he or she is assessed and diagnosed by the clinic’s medical director and a certified wound care professional. The wound care team will conduct an evaluation of the wound and decide the best method of an individualized treatment plan for the patient.
The TGMC Wound Care Clinic provides evaluation and treatment of:
- pressure ulcers (bed sores)
- venous, arterial and diabetic leg ulcers
- surgical and trauma wounds
- burns(thermal, chemical, radiation) and skin conditions
- colostomy/ileostomy/gastrostomy/urostomy complications
The Clinic works with primary care physicians or specialists to develop a treatment plan that will suit the patient’s needs.
Some of the many services provided by the Wound Care Clinic include:
- Wound care recommendations regarding topical therapy and pressure relief.
- Conservative instrumental debridement.
- Compression therapy for venous ulcers and offloading for diabetic ulcers.
- Diabetic foot care (nail trimming).
- Vacuum assisted closure therapy for wounds.
- Nutritional assessment and interventions.
- Patient, family, and caregiver education.
- Appropriate referrals: surgeon, cardiologist, orthotist, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, podiatrist, etc.
- Ongoing communication regarding patients' evaluations and recommendations with home health agencies, nursing homes, and LTACS.
A team approach to care.
The Wound Care Clinic is supervised by a medical director, who oversees all aspects of care and treatment ensuring that you receive the highest level of wound management possible. In addition, the clinic has a highly qualified and certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse. These trained professionals have a team approach to high-quality yet cost-effective care, and apply research-based protocols to identify and correct impediments to healing.
The clinic also works in close conjunction with the TGMC Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit (HBO), which benefits individuals seeking wound care treatment. HBO therapy has proven effective in the treatment of chronic wounds as well as many other medical conditions and is the only center available in the tri-parish area. Together, these two areas develop a treatment plan that will best serve the patient.
Whose is a candidate?
Any patient who has a wound, acute or chronic, that is not showing signs of healing after one to two weeks, or patients with complicated surgical wounds are candidates for treatment at the TGMC Wound Care Clinic.
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
For most people, a sore is nothing more than an inconvenience, but for those with conditions that compromise the body’s ability to heal itself, the Wound Care Clinic at TGMC can help. Don’t delay – start healing today.
To contact the Wound Care Clinic at Terrebonne General Medical Center call 985-873-4176.
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hyperbaric Medicine
The department of Hyperbaric Medicine at Terrebonne General Medical Center performs Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which is a pressurized environment in which patients breathe high levels of oxygen to heal and treat a variety of conditions. Patients are placed into a special chamber where they breathe 100% oxygen. The air inside the pressurized chamber is typically 2 1/2 times greater than normal atmospheric pressure. This leads to the patient’s blood carrying larger amounts of oxygen and bringing this oxygen to organs and tissues in the body. By doing so, wounds, particularly infected wounds, can heal more rapidly.
This oxygen therapy was developed and tested by the military and has been safely used since the 1930’s. TGMC is one of only several dozen facilities in the US that has a Hyperbaric Medicine Department. The department first opened its doors in March 1990.
The department is coordinated under the direction of a Medical Director and has a treatment team consisting of a certified hyperbaric medicine registered nurse and technician who are highly skilled professionals.
Hyperbaric Medicine is the use of oxygen under pressure, used as a drug (medicine).
There are two basic functions of hyperbaric oxygen on the human body. The first and most commonly used at TGMC is the increased partial pressure of oxygen in all of the tissues of the body. This typically acts as a drug with specific indications and side effects. The second function of hyperbaric oxygen is the mechanical effect, which is useful in treating diving accidents such as decompression illness.
Under the direction of a Medical Director, a certified hyperbaric medicine registered nurse and technician, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions such as:
- Enhancement of healing selected problem wounds including diabetic foot ulcers
- Crush injuries
- Air or gas embolism
- Carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation
- Gas gangrene
- Decompression sickness
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Osteomyelitis
- Radiation tissue damage
- Failing skin grafts and flaps
- Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia
- Acute peripheral arterial insuffiency
The uses for hyperbaric oxygen therapy continue to develop and expand. Clinical trials are underway with this treatment plan for other conditions including strokes, traumatic brain injuries, heart attacks and cerebral palsy.
While undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy a treatment plan will be developed for each patient. The plan consists of four components: the treatment sessions, the daily schedule, the medical restrictions and the safety components. A member of the hyperbaric team will go over the full treatment plan upon the initial visit.
Advancements in Technology
The hyperbaric medicine department is also capable of measuring oxygen tensions of the tissue through Transcutaneous Oximetry Measurements (TCOM’s). This non-invasive tool helps to determine a more accurate outcome for the patients. It measures the oxygen levels in the tissue on room air and with the patient breathing 100% oxygen. This information is then calculated to determine a regional perfusion index (RPI). RPI helps determine the sites healing potential, both on room air and oxygen.
TCOM’s have been a great benefit in keeping the department current with the latest technology. In addition, TCOM’s also promote better outcomes and satisfaction for our patients, which is the primary focus of the department.
Another benefit of TCOM testing is to achieve a better outcome in the decision on levels of amputations when hyperbaric treatments may not be indicated.
Insurance Coverage
During a hyperbaric consult, diabetic wounds are covered with patients who meet the following criteria:
- The patient has type I or II diabetes and has a lower extremity wound that is due to diabetes.
- The patient has a wound classified as a Wagner Grade III or higher.
- The patient has failed an adequate course of standard wound therapy.
About Hyperbaric Medicine at TGMC
To contact the Hyperbaric Medicine Department at Terrebonne General Medical Center call (985) 873-4164. The department hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. In order to schedule a treatment plan you must have a physician order.
We look forward to serving you!