The CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Wound & Hyperbaric Center is dedicated to the provision of state-of-the-art, outpatient clinical wound care and hyperbaric medicine. Our Center was evaluated based on patient care, safety, education, and a physical evaluation of the facility.
Our professional staff provides specialized, comprehensive therapy to assist in healing problematic wounds. We work with patients' regular physicians to ensure continuity of medical care. We want physicians to think of our Center as an extension of their practice. Referring physicians maintain the care of their patient's underlying disease and continue to provide for the patient's overall care. When you refer a patient, the patient meets with our staff for a consultation, including an examination and medical history evaluation. Information regarding the patient's progress, along with updated photos of the wound, will be submitted to you at your request. You are always welcome to call the Center for an update. The patient remains under your care. The Center only treats the wound.
The coordinated use of a variety of clinical treatments, debridement, medicines, dressings, and support services to treat chronic wounds has proven highly effective in facilitating the healing process.
A Referral Form to the Wound and Hyperbaric Center is available. Call 505-913-3180
Nearly six million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds. There are many different types of wounds. Some are associated with complications from diabetes and other related vascular disorders. Other types include pressure sores and traumatic wounds. It can be very frustrating and time consuming to heal these wounds. The CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Wound & Hyperbaric Center is an extension of the overall wound care program at CHRISTUS St. Vincent. Patients receiving inpatient wound care are transferred to the outpatient component by inpatient wound care nurses, hospitalists, case managers, and patients' primary care physicians.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an adjunctive therapy in which the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen while enclosed in a pressurized chamber at greater-than-normal atmospheric pressure.
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Learn MoreThere are different types wounds that are infected, have poor circulation, or are difficult to heal. Getting the right kind of treatment for the type of wound you might have is critical.
Learn MoreMany people are affected by hard-to-heal wounds that can result from a number of factors including poor circulation, diabetes, trauma, altered nutritional status and immune system problems. In these cases, special treatment and care could be required.
Learn MorePatients undergo a thorough diagnostic examination to identify the type of wound and underlying problems causing the wound. Next, a program specifically tailored to the patient's needs is initiated based on the most effective treatment options.
Learn MoreIf you suffer from a chronic or non-healing wound, speak with your physician about our Wound Care Center. You may be a candidate for our outpatient program.
If you are, the Wound Care Center will work with you and your doctor to deliver:
No referral is necessary for access to the Center, however we do want to know which physicians you have been seeing.
For safety reasons there are certain items not allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber. Please do not wear or bring the following into the chamber during your treatment.
Ask your hyperbaric physician for advice on wearing contact lenses, dentures, partial plates or hearing aides during treatment. You should also refrain from smoking or the use of tobacco products over the entire course of treatment. Tobacco use will prolong or even prevent healing of a wound site due to its constricting effect on the blood vessels in your body.
You should inform the staff at the Center if you have a cold or cough, the flu, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Alert the staff to any medications you are taking or changes in medication during the course of your treatment.
If you are diabetic, please eat properly and continue to take your prescription medication to control blood sugar level. Your blood sugar level will also be checked before, during and after each visit to the Center.
After an initial consultation and examination at the Center, you will be ready to begin your treatment. When you arrive, you will receive complete instructions regarding your treatment. Before starting, you will change into a 100% cotton garment provided by the Center. For safety reasons, no other clothing may be worn inside the hyperbaric oxygen treatment chamber.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is reimbursable by Medicare and most other third party payors for certain clinical applications. Reimbursement, however, varies and pre- authorization for this service may be required by the patient's health care plan. The Center will work with you to ascertain coverage.
You will be closely monitored by a hyperbaric medicine team who will also work with your physicians to assure your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is safe and effective. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy usually has limited or no after or side effects. Your hyperbaric medical team physician will discuss possible side effects with you directly.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is not painful. During certain parts of the treatment you may feel a plugging in your ears from the pressurization, similar to when you are flying in an airplane or diving to the bottom of a pool of water.
The number of treatments administered will depend on your specific condition. Your hyperbaric oxygen team of specialists will discuss your treatment course before you begin therapy. Some conditions may require as many as 20-40 treatments. The treatment course depends on your body's response to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments typically last 90-120 minutes and are administered 1-2 times daily, 5-6 days a week.
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