Opening the Doors to Wound Care

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Department at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will host an Open House on Wednesday, November 28th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Healthcare professionals and members of the public are invited to learn about effective treatment options for patients with chronic, surgical or acute wounds.

“Diabetic patients, who often have problem wounds on their lower limbs, are encouraged attend the Open House and become familiar with available services,” said Mary Blakemore, Acting Clinical Coordinator for the Department. “People preparing for surgery and those who care for elderly or diabetic clients will be given useful information to share with their healthcare providers.”

Last year, the Department logged thousands of patient hours and provided nearly 6,000 treatments. In addition to services offered by the Wound Care Team, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been used successfully with some patients who suffer from problem wounds and may reduce the risk of amputation.

Patients are referred to the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Department through their primary physician.

For further information, please contact the Department directly at 239-2075.

Notes-

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Department provides:
· General physical and wound assessments to identify impediments to wound healing
· Non-invasive assessments of circulation
· Standard and specialized wound care therapies
· Appropriate referrals to a surgeon, podiatrist, orthotist, lymphedema specialist and/or physiotherapist and to the Diabetic Education Centre and community nursing services

Any patient who has a chronic wound, a complicated surgical wound or an acute wound that is not showing signs of healing within one to two weeks is a candidate for treatment.

Any person with a condition for which Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) may be indicated, is assessed by the hyperbaric physician to determine whether he/she is fit for this type of treatment. HBOT refers to the administration of oxygen at a pressure higher than sea level. We breathe air made up of 21% oxygen. In the chamber, we breathe 100% oxygen under pressure to create a medicinal affect. The chamber is cylindrical and can be sealed and pressurized with air. Inside, there are cushioned seats where patients sit and receive their oxygen.

The Hyperbaric Chamber at KEMH is 22 feet long and 6 feet wide and has 8 patient seats. There is an outer chamber that can transport patients or medical staff in and out of the main chamber. There is also a small medical lock that can transport medications, food, etc. A medical staff member specially trained in hyperbaric medicine always accompanies the patients.

There are a total of 13 medically approved conditions treated by HBOT:
· Problem wounds
· Decompression sickness
· Carbon monoxide poisoning
· Arterial gas embolism
· Crush injuries
· Delayed radiation injury
· Exceptional blood loss (Anemia)
· Necrotizing soft tissue infections
· Skin grafts and flaps
· Thermal burns
· Osteomyelitis (refractory)
· Gas gangrene
· Intracranial abscess

The Department operates from 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday.

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