When a wound won't heal, it can affect every part of your life
A wound that lingers can make everyday activities harder than they should be. You may be dealing with pain, swelling, limited movement or concerns about infection. You may feel frustrated that healing is taking longer than expected and uncertain about what to do next.
At CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center, you'll find specialized care focused on helping chronic and complex wounds heal. Your care team creates a treatment plan tailored to your needs and works closely with your physician, so your care stays connected and coordinated.
Using advanced wound care treatments, specialized dressing, medications, debridement and hyperbaric oxygen therapy when appropriate, the focuses on creating the best environment for healing. The goal is simple: help you recovery, prevent complications and get back to the activities that matter to you.
Care that stays connected
Your physician remains involved in your overall care while our wound care specialists focus on treating the wound itself. Throughout treatment, your care team coordinates with your doctor and can provide updates on your progress, helping ensure everyone involved in your care has the information they need.
Take the next step toward healing
If you have a wound that is not healing as expected, specialized care may help. Ask your physician about a referral to the CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center or call 505-913-3180 to learn more.
Hours & Locations
St. Vincent Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center
Dealing with Problem Wounds
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 Care & 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.
Services & Treatments
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
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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Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis occurs when germs enter the bone, either directly from an injury or by spreading from an infection elsewhere in the body.
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Types of Wounds
There 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.
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Wound Care
Many 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.
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Wound Treatment
Patients 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.
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Clinical Trials
Learn MoreClinical Trials
Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing treatments, with many standard therapies stemming from past research. By participating, you help shape future care and contribute to lifesaving discoveries. Please reach out if you are interested in participating.
Frequently Asked Questions
If 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:
- Advanced therapies
- Proven clinical protocols
- An individualized, comprehensive plan of care that brings you the most appropriate and effective treatments for your particular needs
- Assessment and ongoing care by our highly skilled team of wound care specialists, including a case manager who will oversee every aspect of your case
- Thorough training for you and your family on caring for the wound at home
- Education materials and resources related to prevention, nutrition, hygiene and other key topics for you and your family
- Ongoing communication so that you and your doctor stay informed and up-to-date on all aspects of your healing.
- The Wound Care Center can provide treatment through the use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber (HBO) which is a means of providing additional oxygen to the tissues of your body.
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.
- Makeup
- Alcohol or petroleum based products
- Perfume
- Cell phones/pagers
- Aftershave
- Metallic items (such as jewelry, titanium frame eyeglasses, keys, watches and coins
- Hairspray/hair oils
- Flammable materials or heat producing items (heating pad, lighters, cigarettes)
- Wigs/hairpieces
- Hearing aids
- Nail polish
- Food, gum or candy
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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