Wound Care Center Opens At HRMC

SEBRING - Thursday's grand opening of the Highlands Regional Wound Care Center was a chance for partners Highlands Regional Medical Center and Florida -based National Healing Corporation to show off the new 1,800-square-foot facility.

Converted from former surgical suites, the spacious wound center features four treatment rooms and two hyperbaric oxygen chambers. More than 100 well-wishers attended the opening and received guided tours.

The center at 7200 S. George Blvd. underwent $300,000 worth of renovations and offers state-of-the-art specialized wound healing care, especially for diabetics.

"We chose a well-known national organization and together designed a comprehensive approach to wound care," said Allison Mulholland. "It's not just a room, it's a whole surgical center."

Dr. Marie Rosy Toussaint, of HRMC, specializes in internal medicine, and said the center stimulates care of wounds from bed sores, poor circulation and burns or chronic ulcers on the legs caused by complications of diabetes.

The center will offer treatment for skin grafts without surgery and instead use live cells directly on the wound.

The local staff, vascular surgeons, a dermatologist, nurses and other staff are trained in the newest technology, gain experience and learn specialties, including protocols in an Ohio training center by partner, the National Healing corporation.

The centerpieces of the center are two hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

A hospital press release reads: "Relaxing in a bed encased within a large see-through plastic shell, patients can watch movies on television and VCR players mounted above the chamber while hearing the movies and conversing with others outside the chamber through a speaker system.

"The only physical sensation resulting from the treatment is a slight pressure on the eardrum, such as that felt when a plane lands, as the air in the chamber is compressed."

Dr. Francisco Espaillat talked about the need to update and specialize wound care.

"National statistics show that using a chamber saves patients from losing limbs," said Espaillat.

The hospital news release also reported National Healing Corporation wound healing centers nationwide show a healing rate of 80 percent attained in 12 to 16 weeks and the rate of limb amputation for non-responsive wounds is less than four percent.

Most Medicare and Medicaid patients do not require a physicians referral.