More treatment options, easier access for wound patients at GBMC

When you have a wound, your biggest concern is healing it. Having to drive across town to several different practices to get the best possible care should be the least of your worries.

“The GBMC Wound Center prides itself on being multidisciplinary,” says Jennifer A. Heller, MD, RPVI, FACS, Medical Director of the Wound Center at GBMC. “We can address any kind of wound, and we do so at one site so patients can be evaluated in one setting.”

Multidisciplinary means a team of experts in vascular surgery, podiatry, diagnostic testing, and infectious disease are all under one roof, which makes it easier for patients to be seen and get on track to heal as quickly as possible.

The care team at the Wound Center at GBMC focuses on the whole body throughout the healing process, Dr. Heller says.

“When we formulate a treatment plan for a patient, it doesn’t just address and identify the cause of their wound, but it also takes into account any factors that could be causing a delay in healing.”

This multifaceted treatment plan may include nutritional assessment and counseling, diabetic education, pain management, and patient and caregiver counseling.

Patients who may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy will receive a comprehensive evaluation to assess whether this therapy is appropriate. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a patient spends time in a pressurized chamber.

“Wounds need oxygen to heal properly. Exposing certain types of wounds to 100% oxygen may speed up healing, and we’re one of just a few centers in the area to offer this type of therapy,” Dr. Heller says.

The Wound Center also offers treatment for lymphedema, a swelling due to a disruption of lymphatics.

“Lymphedema can happen out of the blue,” Dr. Heller says. “But it’s more common to have swelling after surgery or cancer treatments. Our goal is to identify any issues before they get out of hand so we can treat the lymphedema appropriately and get our patients healthy.”

Even with a comprehensive approach to patient care, GBMC recognized there were aspects of the Wound Center that could be improved to better meet patient needs. In fall 2023, the Wound Center will relocate to the ground level of the main hospital building. At its current location, on the fourth floor, some patients struggle to get to appointments on time. This reconfiguration and renovation of the center space with larger rooms and adjacent parking will result in improved service, outcomes, patient comfort, convenience, and satisfaction.

“Now patients won’t have to navigate the entire hospital to get to the Wound Center. They’ll have dedicated parking and can walk right in,” Dr. Heller says.

“A lot of people say they wish they’d come to GBMC sooner. We’ll expedite your treatment plan and provide a lot of education, so if it happens again in the future, you’ll know what to do.”