Milford Hospital unveils wound care center
Saturday, 18 February 2012 21:37
Area residents suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds have the option to receive advanced treatment options at Milford Hospital. On Wednesday, Feb. 8, after more than six months of planning and renovation, The Advanced Wound Care Center at Milford Hospital opened its doors and saw their first patients.
“Milford Hospital continues to be committed to providing high quality, comprehensive health care services to our community,” said Joseph Pelaccia, hospital president and CEO. “We identified a need and, in response, designed a state-of-the-art facility that will offer specialized wound treatment to patients who are suffering from chronic, painful, non-healing wounds.”
Located in the hospital’s main campus, the 2,000-square-foot facility offers five treatment rooms and technologically advanced equipment, including two hyperbaric chambers.
Physicians and nurses trained in wound care and hyperbaric medicine will provide specialized evaluation and treatment for patients suffering from diabetic foot and leg ulcers, vascular ulcers, radiation induced tissue injuries, crush injuries and other non-healing wounds, hospital officials said.
Patients will be referred to the center by a variety of health care providers, including primary care physicians, podiatrists, oncologists, surgeons and others.
“The need for wound care services has grown due in part to our aging population as well as increased rates of diabetes, circulatory problems and other health concerns,” said Dr. Magdalen Mauriello, the center’s medical director. “Patients with chronic wounds, which haven’t improved with other treatment methods, do not have to suffer anymore. Using our advanced techniques, we are committed to healing problematic wounds and restoring our patients overall health.”
Dr. Mauriello and other board certified physicians, specializing in general surgery, vascular surgery, internal medicine and radiology, will work together in the center to offer patients a multi-disciplinary, individualized approach for healing. After an initial assessment, a variety of clinical interventions and treatments may be used including: Advanced surgical treatments, compression therapy, topical therapy, bio-engineered skin-grafts, negative pressure therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
If appropriate and medically indicated, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used.
“We expect about one third of our patients will be candidates for hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” said Jeff Borges, wound care center administrator.
According to Borges, patients recommended for hyperbaric oxygen therapy will spend about two hours inside the chamber, which resembles a large glass tube, breathing in 100% pure oxygen. Treatments take place five days a week for up to eight weeks.
“Hyperbaric therapy is painless,” he said. “Patients can lie comfortably in the chamber and watch TV or rest. We can communicate with them and monitor them closely.”
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