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THE SPECTRUM OF CARE VIA CHRISTI WOUND HEALING AND HYPERBARIC THER APY TREATS: + Ulcers (diabetic, neuropathic, pressure) + Infections + Venous insufficiency + Injuries to soft tissue and bone + Surgical wounds + Vasculitis + Chronic wounds Benefits for referring physicians: + Comfort in knowing patients will receive comprehensive assessment by expert providers trained in wound-care specialty + Routine progress reports on patient wound improvement as well as discharge disposition + A large variety of wound resources available to expedite the healing process + On-site hyperbaric treatment + Commitment to seeing patient regularly until healing has occurred + Pre- and postoperative education and counseling for ostomy patients about what to expect, Dr. McBoyle says, which is helpful because the patients often have a short hospital stay. A certified diabetes educator helps patients monitor blood sugar levels, manage diet and medications, and track the progress of their wounds throughout treatment. An on-staff social worker helps connect patients with resources for healing and recovery, if needed, including wound-dressing supplies, home healthcare visits, or community services and support. Ongoing Education As a member of the Healogics network, which manages more than 500 wound-care centers nationwide, healthcare professionals at Via Christi Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Therapy complete annual competencies and specialized training, and they have the oppor- tunity to attend educational symposiums. Healogics focuses on a team approach and employs a rigorous scientific practice to explore, test, find and develop the clinically proven methods and technologies that restore the body's innate ability to heal. The net- work comprises academic medical centers, hospitals and thousands of professionals committed to advancing wound healing by creating, sharing and activating wound prevention and care expertise. "Our team is constantly training to do more," says Dr. McBoyle, who has a surgical background. We all come at it from different vantage points. Yet we are grounded in the same essential principles of wound care, and share the same goal of providing healing as quickly and effectively as possible." A Collaborative Edge Staff maintain ongoing communication with the patients' primary care providers and seek to enlist the expertise of many specialists to help heal wounds and minimize other healthcare risks. They work with family physicians, orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, vein specialists, internists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, general surgeons, podiatrists, rheumatologists and neurosurgeons. "Having other specialized physicians nearby is beneficial in the management of ulcers as well as follow-up care," says Dr. Matsuda, citing access to vascular assess- ment, imaging studies, advanced wound care, surgical intervention and acute care at St. Francis. To ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate care, progress is tracked through weekly visits and patients' plans are regularly reviewed by a panel of consulting clinicians. The center has provided valuable training for residents as well as all physicians involved. "Wound care is a subspecialty that has its own learning curve," Dr. McBoyle says. "It makes our work in medicine so gratifying. It is a continual learning process that pushes us to be better today than we were yesterday." In the past year, the center has experienced a 23 percent increase in patient encounters and 9 percent new patient growth. As the population ages and more people are diagnosed with diabetes, the center will play a crucial role in wound-care healing and management. To refer a patient, call One Call at 316-719-3030. Visit viachristi.org/wound for more information and to view a video about hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The wound-care program started in 1996 with a team of three nurses seeing patients at Via Christi Hospital St. Francis and one nurse at Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph. The programs merged at St. Francis in 1997. The wound-care center moved to its current location at 848 N. St. Francis in 2011 and was renamed Via Christi Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Therapy. ■ Marilee McBoyle, MD, prepares to debride a patient's leg wound at the wound-care center. SPECI A L FE AT UR E 1 2 | Greater Kansas MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M