Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric Department
Traditional Spirit of Caring for People with Advanced Science & Technology
Every patient at the Meadville Medical Center (MMC) Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric
Department is someone's parent, sibling or child. Every day, we see
our patients and their loved ones, and we see that when a person has a
chronic or non-healing wound, it affects family members, not just the
patient. We emphasize the traditional spirit of caring for people along
with natural healing and state-of-the-art science and technology.
Your loved one will need special care if he or she has a wound that will
not heal. Changes are going to have to be made by every family member
to help with this care. We deal with situations like this every day. Our
team of professionals is dedicated to helping you or your loved one reach
the best possible outcome. Our staff will help you understand the process
of wound healing, describe and explain what is happening every step of
the way, chart your loved one's progress through the treatment process,
and provide information and advice once the treatment is complete. Your
loved one will need all the love, care, compassion and help possible.
We'll do our part so you can do yours.
State-of-the-Art Wound Treatment
The Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric Department at Meadville Medical Center
provides state-of-the-art treatments for all wounds.
Wounds are often the result of an underlying medical condition, such as:
- Diabetes
- Neuropathy
- Arthritis
- Venous insufficiency
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Factors associated with immobility
The staff of the Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric Department offers an interdisciplinary
approach to treating wounds. The Wound Recovery Team brings together board-certified
specialists in orthopedic and vascular surgery, enterostomal therapy,
podiatry, family medicine, infectious diseases and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
All the nursing staff members are certified wound specialists who have
completed advanced studies and passed an extensive examination. The team
can also, if appropriate, give referrals for orthotics, dietary guidelines,
physical therapy, pain control, home health care, and orthopedic foot
and ankle care.
Our medical staff at the Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric Department includes:
- Christopher Weibel, MD, general and vascular surgeon, medical director
of Wound Recovery Department
- Carol Encarnacion, MD, infection disease specialist (will be rounding on
inpatients)
- Curtis Helgert, DO, family practice / emergency medicine physician
- John Ziegler, DPM, podiatrist
- Victor Pilewski, MD, general surgeon
Initial Wound Assessment
Patients initially undergo a complete wound assessment to identify the
underlying cause of the wound and a treatment plan is devised. When necessary,
consultations in vascular intervention, diabetic and nutrition education,
infectious disease, orthotics and compression therapy, as well as other
disciplines, are readily available. We work directly with primary physicians
or referring physicians to keep them informed of patients' progress.
There are many factors that impact the healing of wounds. Diabetes, weight
gain, heart disease, poor circulation and medications are just a few of
the many existing conditions that can slow down or stop the healing of wounds.
Wound Treatment & Services
Wound healing is a complex process involving the patient, the family, the
environment and the healthcare professional. The skilled physicians and
staff of the Wound Recovery / Hyperbaric Department at MMC provide a comprehensive
program designed to heal the wounds, educate the patient and prevent recurrence.
The same nurse provides primary nursing and case management throughout
a patient’s treatment. Inpatient care by the same skilled wound
care staff guarantees a continuum of care for optimal healing potential.
Wounds treated include:
- Diabetic
- Arterial and / or venous
- Pressure
- Post injury
- Post surgical
- Post oncology
- Burns
- Non-descriptive wounds
Available services include:
- Initial complete assessment and treatment plan with first visit
- Follow-up visits per individual patient needs
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Vascular / laboratory studies
- Surgical procedures
- Protection/off-loading
- Selective wound dressings
- Infection control
- Debridement
- Compression
- Grafts
- Education
- Referrals
- Ongoing patient follow-up
- Letters to referring physicians
- Lymphedema management
- Total contact casting
- Enterostomal / OstomyTherapy
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen. This can be increased to 100% if
we breathe oxygen via a mask or hood. The body's oxygen supply can
be increased by a further two or three times by entering a hyperbaric
chamber and receiving 100% oxygen at increased pressure. Oxygen delivered
in this manner can be "dissolved" into the blood stream and
body tissues at a far greater rate by using pressure. The oxygen will
be administered as a series of treatments and for permanent effect the
entire series of treatments must be completed. These treatments take about
two hours and are delivered daily, Mondays through Fridays.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Patients who have undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy for difficult to
heal wounds have shown favorable results. They are more likely to heal
and less likely to lose a limb to amputation.
Other benefits on hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:
- Increasing oxygen helps tiny new blood vessels to grow in all the affected
tissues. As more blood vessels grow, more oxygen rich blood can reach
the wound.
- This treatment decreases swelling (edema) around the wound. Decreasing
swelling allows the blood to flow more freely to the area, bringing oxygen with it.
- High oxygen levels increase the ability of the "infection fighting"
cells (white blood cells) to kill any offending bacteria that may be in
the area. By "cleaning up" this site, healing has a better chance
of occurring.
Contact Our Wound Recovery Department
The Wound Recovery Department is located on the fourth floor at the Meadville
Medical Center's 751 Liberty Street facility. The department hours
are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be contacted
at (814) 333-5081.
Our location:
Fourth Floor
751 Liberty Street
Meadville PA 16335