MDNews - Greater Boston

cover feature health insurance processing. In addition, since its inception, the center has worked closely with Visiting Nurse associations in the area. "The center has really blossomed into a wonderful program," Dr. Paicos says. "HBOT is one of the tools we use. Education is very important, as well as having a good team of doctors and nurses." Nutrition and education are important aspects of a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on long-term recovery. That is because once a wound heals, the emphasis shifts to preventing it from reappearing. "Because the center is set up to have multiple specialties working together, we all have equal footing and a good working relationship with one another," Dr. Breckwoldt explains. "Continuity with the nursing staff is key, as they do their best to make sure patients are seen as soon as possible, and we work closely with the visiting nurses to be sure patients get whatever they need in terms of support services and supplies." The center's investment in the HBOT chambers has improved what were already successful clinical results. In the years ahead, the center plans to continue to maximize its resources to increase volume and improve patient outcomes. Some of the plans include recruiting an orthopedist and keeping an eye out for new and promising treatments. "Our priority is to improve our wound healing rates and reduce the time it takes for wounds to heal," Dr. Breckwoldt says. "We want those to be better than the national standards, and we've done well in that area so far. We are moving toward implementing an electronic medical record, which is a challenge, but our overall goal is to provide compassionate patient care and to help wounds heal quickly and efficiently." To learn more about Winchester Hospital's Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center, visit www.winchesterhospital.org/woundcare or call (781) 396-8224. ■ 10 | Greater Boston MD News ■ mdnEwS.COm eld er ly o r diab e tic Pati ents th e M ost V u ln er ab le tHE wOund CaRE program at Winchester Hospital's Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center provides comprehensive care that manages chronic or non-healing wounds caused by diabetes, circulatory problems and other conditions. Wounds related to issues, such as immobility, poor circulation or other chronic illnesses can lead to a diminished quality of life, and persistent wounds require a specialized approach to heal. the typical patient coming to the center will have dealt with wound healing problems for a month or more, but the center also treats wounds of shorter duration, such as those from surgery, burns or traumatic injuries. the center treats all types of non-healing wounds, including diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers and surgical wounds. some patients present with issues, such as diabetic foot wounds and osteomyelitis, and the addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBot) means more patients with radiation wounds have been coming to the center. Hospitalists on the multidisciplinary care team see any patients with chronic or acute wounds. elderly or diabetic patients are the most vulnerable. the hospitalists are available 24/7 in the hospital to consult with patients. those patients who need HBot are referred for evaluation. along with other members of the multidisciplinary team, the hospitalists are part of weekly and monthly meetings during which cases are discussed to make sure they are progressing as expected. these meetings help the team complete a full analysis of each patient and consider additional treatment options when necessary. "it's an open discussion on all patients going for HBot," says Mohammed Jaleel, M.D., Medical Director of Winchester Hospital's hospitalist program. "We discuss cases and gain a better knowledge of the patients and how to best treat them. this is one of the best things for the patients because we look at their situations from many different angles. it's good to consider all other options."

• Cover