Frankfort Regional Medical Center

Better Under Pressure To treat a diabetic ulcer on his left leg, Lloyd Griffi e underwent surgery, followed by hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at the Wound Care Center & Hyperbaric Medicine at Frankfort Regional Medical Center. After 40 sessions that began in January 2011, the infection is healed without any need for serious surgical intervention. Used at Frankfort Regional for the past two years, HBOT effectively heals wounds and can fi ght infections, reducing amputation rates and helping patients avoid hospitalization. HBOT can also treat crush injuries, bone infections, skin grafts and fl aps, brown recluse spider bites and some diabetic wounds. During the treatment, the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. "The main objective of this therapy is to increase a patient's healing," says Willis McKee, Jr., MD, FICS, Chief Medical Offi cer at Frankfort Regional. One treatment typically lasts one hour and 50 minutes. Lloyd spent his time at the Wound Care Center & Hyperbaric Medicine relaxing in one of the individual chambers and watching movies. "The most important part of my therapy was the HBOT," says Lloyd. "After the fi rst series of treatments, I could immediately tell a difference in the wound." For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Wound Care Center & Hyperbaric Medicine at 502-226-7872 or visit FrankfortWoundCare.com. Our Revamped Emergency Department In July, Frankfort Regional Medical Center began developing the plans for an Emergency Department (ED) expansion—expected to take 18 months to com- plete—and will be as equipped with technology as it is with the loving care of your friends and neighbors. The Frankfort Regional ED treats approximately 32,000 patients each year. The $8.4 million project will expand the ED from 18 to 28 beds. The project will also add to Frankfort Regional's diagnostic capabilities. "The increase in beds will allow us to see patients more effi ciently," says Gina Wilkins, MD, Medical Director of the Frankfort Regional ED. "Our goal is to get everyone to a bed within 30 minutes of arrival no matter the level of need." The expansion will take the ED's linear design and transform the area into a modern space while creating new areas for patient care. "We have a vested interest in the community," says Lee Higginbotham, Chief Operating Offi cer at Frankfort Regional. "With this new expan- sion, we want to build something for the community that refl ects the exceptional care we provide." For more information on our Emergency Department, visit FrankfortRegional.com, highlight "Our Services" and click on "Emergency Services." 7

• Cover