A matter of healing

Hospital opens Wound Care Center

By David Owens, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com Laurel Leader-Call

LAUREL — Patients receiving treatment from The Wound Care Center at South Central Regional Medical Center have seen remarkable improvements since the center opened in February.

The Wound Care Center is operated through a partnership between the hospital and Diversified Clinical Services of Jacksonville, Fla., under the direction of Amanda Johnson.

Johnson said the center, which is one of 300 across the U.S., offers treatment for those dealing with chronic, non-healing wounds caused from diabetes or other ailments.

“This is aggressive wound care treatment,” she said. “A majority of our patients have diabetic foot ulcers or venous stasis ulcers. But, what’s different about us is we do a full assessment of the patient. We find the underlying factors causing these wounds not to heal.”

Since it opened in February, Johnson said the center has healed a number of patients who battling non-healing wounds for several years.

“Amputation is a possibility, but we want to do everything possible to avoid that,” she said. “Our hyperbarics increase their chances to salvage their limbs.”

Johnson said those entering the hyperbaric chamber breathe in nearly 100 percent oxygen, which hyper-oxygenates their blood and helps the necrotizing tissue to heal.

“But, it does require a commitment of about 30 to 60 daily treatments,” she said. “We really become a family.”

Johnson noted that Dr. Stacy Smithers of Laurel Surgery Clinic also serves as medical director of The Wound Care Center in addition to her practice. Self-refferals are accepted.

Raymond Smith of Laurel is one of those who have seen vast improvements through treatments at The Wound Care Center.

“I have a diabetic ulcer on the bottom of my foot,” he said. “It’s gone from being life-threatening to almost healed up. I could have lost my foot. I did lose a toe in 1997. If this treatment was available back then, I may not have lost my toe too.”

Smith, who is employed at Kroger, said receiving the hyperbaric treatment has allowed him to keep his job and keep working.

“I call these people my angels,” he said. “They are some of the best people I’ve met since I moved back here. They’ve done a lot of good and will continue to do a lot of good.”

Smith, who has received nearly 50 treatments, said he was apprehensive at first to enter the hyperbaric chamber.

“It’s very easy to feel claustrophobic, but the T.V. helps a lot,” he said. “I wish I could have met them under different circumstances, but I’m real confident in what they’re doing. It’s such a good thing.

“I want to help get the word out because this is a good place to come for healing,” Smith added. “I don’t mind doing what it takes.”

In addition to Smithers, other panel physicians at The Wound Care Center include Dr. Terry Pitts of Laurel Family Clinic, and emergency room doctors Jon Finch, Michael LaRochelle and Marcus Stanley. Two other doctors will be receiving training this summer.

Paul Walker, HBO and safety technician for The Wound Care Center, said treatment in the hyperbaric treatment is “like making sweet tea.”

“Oxygen is like the sugar,” he said. “It makes it better.”

Walker said the hyperbaric chamber offers the same pressure as scuba diving.

“It’s the same physics,” he said. “The usual treatment is 2.4 atmospheres or 21.2 psi. The higher the atmosphere or psi, the better the oxygen gets in your body. It’s really good for your whole body and skin.”

Walker said that in some cases, it’s only taken a small number of treatments for patients to see a considerable difference in their wounds.

“It’s like the fountain of youth,” he said. “It really makes you feel good.”

For more information on South Central Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, call 601-426-4739.

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