Texas Health Stephenville

The Next Level of Wound Care When it comes to chronic wounds, technology at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville's comprehensive Wound Care Center is getting better all the time. TexasHealth.org 4 f or patients suffering from nonhealing wounds caused by trauma, ulcers, diabetes or other conditions, life can be exceptionally painful and challenging. Thanks to the addition of two new monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chambers at Texas Health Stephenville Wound Care Services, patients now have local access to this highly specialized therapy to aid in healing wounds. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy [HBOT] involves the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure," explains Patty Weidemann, program director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Texas Health Stephenville. "Patients suffering from underlying conditions or diseases that limit their ability to provide enough oxygen to their bodies to heal wounds can benefit from HBOT." According to Weidemann, HBOT delivers 100 percent oxygen at an increased pressure that in turn increases the amount of oxygen carried by the blood. This helps activate white blood cells that fight infections and promotes the healing process in chronic wounds. During treatment, patients lie or recline in a clear glass capsule and breathe 100 percent oxygen. Patients can watch TV, sleep or listen to the radio during therapy. "Before we offered this treatment, many people who needed HBOT were driving at least 70 miles daily for their treatment," says Weidemann. "Offering it locally saves patients time and resources, not to mention lives and limbs." For some conditions, HBOT is the preferred treatment. For other conditions, HBOT is one of many treatment options to consider. GROUNDED IN EXCELLENCE The Wound Care Center has been serving Stephenville and the surrounding communities since 2006. The facility has received several Center of Distinction awards from Healogics™, the largest wound care management company in the nation. "We are really pleased to be able to grow our already successful wound care program to now include HBOT," says Christopher Leu, president of Texas Health Stephenville. "This is a unique service in our area and enables our wound care team of professionals to add a proven therapy to treat patients with debilitating wounds and make a very positive impact on their lives." For more information about wound care at Texas Health Stephenville, visit TexasHealth.org/StephenvilleWoundCare or call 254-965-1171. What Is a Nonhealing Wound? A chronic or nonhealing wound is any wound that has not begun to heal within two weeks or completely healed within six weeks. People with diabetes should seek help sooner. Nonhealing wounds can be caused by a variety of conditions and circumstances, including: • crush injuries • radiation injury • diabetes • venous insufficiency • failing skin grafts and flaps • chronic infection of the bone

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