To understand how a wound is supposed to heal, search your knees. All evidence
of the scrapes and scabs of childhood are likely long gone. That is because
the human body is blessed with the incredible ability to heal damaged tissues.
But more than 5 million Americans suffer from chronic or non-healing wounds
– a wound that does not heal in six to eight weeks with traditional
wound care. These wounds not only don’t disappear without a trace,
they can cause serious infections, illness and loss of a limb.
If your wound is not healing properly, you need expert care.
Healogics™ Inc. recently honored
Hoag Wound Care Center with the
Center of Distinction Award for clinical excellence for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, Hoag received the
Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Center of Excellence award. These prestigious national awards recognize Hoag for achieving outstanding
patient outcomes for 12 consecutive months.
With a healing rate of 95 percent and an average healing time that is seven
days faster than the national average, Hoag was one of only four California
hospitals that qualified as a Center of Excellence.
These distinctions are a testament to our comprehensive team approach which
brings together physicians, nurses and physical therapists, all trained
in advanced wound care, to specifically tailor a treatment plan for each
patient’s unique needs.
But our team can only help those patients who are referred to us or who
know to seek expert help. If you are experiencing a diabetic foot ulcer,
venous leg ulcer, a chronic wound from radiation therapy, or a skin injury
that won’t heal, don’t ignore it. Even seemingly small diabetic
foot wounds, if unrecognized or undertreated, can rapidly progress, resulting
in infection, amputation and loss of mobility, and sometimes permanent
disability.
With state-of-the-art treatments including debridement, hyperbaric oxygen
therapy, dressing selection, special shoes and patient education, the
center addresses total patient health. Our interdisciplinary model of
care also includes infectious-disease management, physical therapy, occupational
therapy, laboratory evaluation, nutritional management, pain management,
diabetic education and radiology testing.
Our approach is comprehensive and our outcomes are impressive. But most
importantly, Hoag is returning mobility and quality of life to patients
whose wounds cause nearly constant pain.
That is why Hoag Wound Center opened a second location at Hoag Health Center
Irvine on Sand Canyon to bring Hoag’s nationally recognized wound
care services to patients in Irvine and the surrounding communities.
Our expansion is a response to the understanding that people everywhere
suffer from non-healing wounds – and to the belief that with the
right care, they don’t have to.
Dr. Michael Hurwitz is medical director of the Hoag Wound Healing and Hyperbaric
Medicine Center.