THE PHYSICIANS, LEADERS AND CLINICIANS
at Ashtabula County Medical Center (ACMC) are celebrating the
ACMC Wound Healing Center earning a Center of Distinction award.
The award was given by Healogics Inc., the nation’s largest provider
of advanced wound care services. The center has achieved outstanding
patient outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient
satisfaction score of 97 percent and a 96 percent wound healing rate
within 30 median days to heal, among other quality outcomes.
The ACMCWound Healing Center is a member of the Healogics Network
of over 500 centers, which provides access to benchmarking data and
proven experience treating over 2 million chronic wounds. In ACMC’s
Wound Healing Center, more than 880 patients in the community have
been provided specialized treatment for chronic and nonhealing wounds.
The Wound Healing Center also offers treatment for:
➜
➜
Diabetic neuropathic wounds.
Diabetic neuropathic ulcers develop
from injuries to the foot. The pain goes unnoticed because of the
loss of feeling in the feet from diabetes. An unnoticed injury can be
compounded, leading to severe tissue damage.
➜
➜
Venous stasis or arterial wounds.
Venous stasis ulcers are often found
below the knees in people with chronic venous insufficiency (reduced
blood flow in the limbs). Arterial ulcers are caused by poor circulation.
Without an adequate blood supply, skin deteriorates and ulcers develop
in the affected area.
➜
➜
Pressure ulcers.
These are formed when constant pressure is applied to
skin surfaces. They usually form on bony parts of the body, like the knees,
spine and heels, where pressure is constantly exerted against external
surfaces.
➜
➜
Other nonhealing wounds.
These may be caused by surgical incisions,
spider bites and radiation burns.
➜
➜
Trauma wounds/crash injuries.
The ACMC Wound Healing Center features two hyperbaric oxygen
chambers, which are used in a variety of treatment options.
“We are so pleased with the care the ACMC Wound Healing Center is
providing for those in our community who struggle with chronic wounds,”
ACMC President and CEO Michael Habowski said. “The need is great for
this type of local, specialized care, and the timely healing of these wounds
reduces the rate of amputation and other life-threatening conditions.”
Craig Frisina, RN, director of the ACMC Wound Healing Center, said:
“I was excited to share the news of this great award with the staff. Our
team works so hard and takes such pride in making sure that all of our
patients have a great experience and receive exceptional care. We see
every day the difference we make in the lives of our patients, and that’s a
tremendous reward. This honor is like icing on the cake.”
RUTH ANN DEIS,
of Rock
Creek, knows what it is like to be a
caregiver. For months, she took care
of her husband, who passed away in
late 2011.
She was so focused on him that she
didn’t notice little health problems in
her own life until they had grown out
of control.
Not long after his death, she
noticed that a sore spot on her
foot was not healing. Her doctor
recommended treatment at the
Wound Healing Center at Ashtabula
County Medical Center (ACMC).
“I probably should have noticed
something was not right, but I was so
focused on my husband,” Deis said.
She was diagnosed with an
infection in the bone of the little toe
of her left foot. Infectious disease
physician Olusegun Ogunlesi, MD,
and podiatrist Michelle Dunbar,
DPM, initially treated the infection
with antibiotics, as well as a course of
treatment in the facility’s hyperbaric
oxygen chamber.
Because the infection had gone
untreated for so long, there was a
good chance the toe would have to be
removed.
“The doctors talked me through
each step and what they hoped
to accomplish, but there were no
guarantees,” Deis said. “I knew it was
serious. “They were wonderful and
the nurses and technicians were so
helpful. They really encouraged me
because they knew what I was going
through.”
The Wound Healing Center
‘My health
is so much
better now’
Caregiver learns
to care for herself
Wound Healing Center recognized
Healing
wounds &
changing lives
14
ACMC Pulse •
