At any given time, almost six million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds. Some are associated with complications from diabetes and other related vascular disorders. Other types include pressure ulcers, non-healing surgical wounds, and traumatic wounds. The Terre Haute Regional Hospital Center for Wound Care uses the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and remain current in new scientific advances in wound care. The Center for Wound Care is a hospital-based outpatient service.
When Should I Consider Using the Wound Care Center? If you have a sore or wound that has not started to heal in two weeks, or completely healed in six weeks, you may contact the Terre Haute Regional Hospital Center for Wound Care. We will coordinate your care with your primary care physician. The center is located on the main floor of the hospital. We are open Monday thru Friday.
An Experienced Team:
Patients referred to our Wound Care Center program benefit from a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach. Integrating a team of wound care professionals increases the level of care, improves patients compliance and clinical outcomes.
We Specialize in Healing Chronic Wounds:
If you're suffering from a non-healing wound, you're not alone. Every year, chronic wounds, caused by diabetes, poor circulation or other conditions, keep millions of Americans just like you from doing things they love to do. But the Center for Wound Care can help you get your life back. Our unique multidisciplinary team of dedicated doctors and nurses treat more of these wounds than anyone else. Many patients find wounds that have resisted healing after months and even years of traditional treatment can be treated. It's all we do. In fact, for most patients, the Center for Wound Care program leaves them completely healed in just a few months.
Who Needs Wound Care?
There are a variety of circumstances in which a person may need wound care. They include, but are not limited to:
• Ulcers (pressure, diabetic, neuropathic or ischemic) • Surgical wounds • Vasculitis • Burns • Venous Stasis • Arterial Insufficiency
• Peristomal skin irritations • Soft tissue radionecrosis
• Actinomycosis • Preservation of compromised skin grafts and flaps
• Crush injury/acute traumatic peripheral ischemia • Progressive necrotizing infections (aka flesh eating bacteria) • osteoradionecrosis
• traumatic wounds
Your First Visit:
When you come in, our staff will evaluate your wound and general health. They'll also review your medical history. A blood test may be involved. You may also need special tests that give us information about blood flow and oxygen flow in the wound area.
Your Healing Program:
When your test results are in, we'll put together a treatment program based on your special needs. This program will include regular visits to the Center for Wound Care to provide treatment, evaluate progress and make any changes that might be needed. You (or your care-giver) will be given detailed instructions in home care, dressing (bandage) changes and protecting the wound from further injury.
You're a Vital Part of the Program:
Much of the success of your treatment depends on you. You must keep your appointments, follow directions carefully and watch your progress closely between visits. And any time you or your family members have questions, our staff is available. In fact, we encourage you to ask questions.
How We Work With Your Doctor:
The Terre Haute Regional Hospital Center for Wound Care works with your personal doctor, just like any other medical specialist. We'll discuss your treatment program with your doctor and keep him or her updated on your progress. Remember, you'll need to keep seeing your doctor for routine medical care.
The Team Approach Treatment of non-healing wounds:
A variety of treatment options are available depending on type and severity of a wound. Treatment may include the following:
• infectious disease management • physical therapy
• vascular evaluation • bio-engineered skin grafting
• laboratory evaluation • nutritional management
• pain management • diabetic education
• nuclear medicine • radiology
• debridement (removal of dead tissue)
• hyperbaric oxygen therapy • edema (swelling) management
Insurance Coverage:
Most often Medicare and Medicaid reimburse for approved procedures.
Many health plans cover Center for Wound Care treatment. Your coverage depends on your specific plan. Be sure to bring your insurance cards with you when you visit the center.
Terre Haute Regional Hospital Center for Wound Care Panel Physicians include:
Dr. Jean Mercho, Dr. Robert Chua, Dr. John Trench and Dr. Richard Reed
The Center
The Center for Wound Care has two exam rooms, plus a suite with two large, clear acrylic hyperbaric oxygen chambers, each with its own TV/VCR and CD player for patients to watch movies or listen to music during treatment. The completely transparent chambers allow patients to see and be seen.
Meet George and Gracie
The Hyperbaric Chambers that are a part of our Center for Wound Care healing tools. These non- invasive clear acrylic chambers provide 100% oxygen to promote the optimum healing opportunity. While breathing pure oxygen, the patient's blood plasma becomes saturated, carrying 20 to 30 times the normal amount of oxygen to the body's tissue. The ultimate result is the body's natural wound healing mechanisms (which are oxygen dependent) are able to function more efficiently. Continued use of HBOT increases the body's immune and healing response. Our Certified Hyperbaric Technician will educate you with the knowledge to complete this therapy program with the best results.
Conditions That May Benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity
• Wounds that have not healed in four weeks
• Post-radiation tissue injury
• Diabetes-related foot and ankle ulcers
• Crush injuries
• Wounds caused by poor circulation or trauma
• Compromised grafts and flaps
• Gangrene
• Pressure ulcers
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections (flesh eating bacteria)
• Acute tramamatic peripheral ischemia
• Compromised skin grafts and flaps
• Osteomyelitis
• Actinomycosis
Contact Information
For more information about the Center for Wound Care, please call 237.9946 or stop by for a tour and meet the staff.
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