As a former businessman, Duane Dye likes solving problems. When a debilitating hip condition created an uncomfortable pressure sore in 2004, Dye, 77, was happy to learn about Wound Care Services at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.
At the center, Dye was prescribed salve and fill-in material to treat his wound, plus an inflatable cushion to relieve the pressure and even out his weight on both sides.
“It healed quickly,” he said. “Problem solved.”
More than six million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds – a wound that hasn’t shown significant improvement in four weeks or healed completely in eight weeks – most often related to diabetes and vascular insufficiency. Other causes of chronic wounds include burns, post-operative surgical incisions, pressure ulcers, and skin cancer.
Since 2003, Wound Care Services at Henry Mayo has helped thousands of patients overcome their chronic wound concerns with a comprehensive approach to management and healing.
The five member physician team includes: Anthony Panasci, MD, vascular surgeon and medical director of the center; John Halebian, DPM, and Shane Rhodes, DPM, podiatrists; Brian Downs, DO, family practice; and Nilesh Hingarh, MD, infectious disease specialist. Their specialized experience brings together a system of care to treat the whole patient, not just the “hole” in the patient.
“We try to get to the underlying cause, to not just treat the wound itself, but to bring about permanent change,” said Dr. Halebian. “We are the tertiary care for wounds, no one is better than us. Our success rate is higher than the national average.”
According to Dr. Panasci, Wound Care Services physicians, who are often referred to patients by their general practitioner, have extensive training and have done the vital research that enables them to detect the nuances of diagnosis and healing.
“All we do there is wounds. There are five physicians who work as a team and focus on strictly solving wound issues. That makes a big difference,” Dr. Panasci said. “Also, even if most of us see a patient in our private practice, we often end up referring them to the wound care services because the nurses that work there are more capable and expeditious of taking care of these problems in that setting. It’s extremely helpful.”
After diagnosis, the most effective protocol is individually tailored for each patient, as Dr. Downs illustrated.
“We remove dead tissue, start the appropriate antibiotic therapy, get their nutritional status under control, and apply specific treatments to the wound site, which can include collagen applications, grafting, healing gels and ointments that help expedite healing,” Dr. Downs said.
For geologist John Heter, 64, treatment included medicated ointment and compression socks for the open sores on his legs and calves caused by diabetes and venous insufficiency. He went to Wound Care Services in June, 2009, and continued once a week for four or five weeks until the sores “were gone.”
“I need to hike around for my work and I like to chase my grandkids around, so it’s just a lot easier now that I’m feeling good,” he said. “Life is absolutely better thanks to the treatment I received at Wound Care Services.”
The successful treatment alleviated Heter’s long-term fears, too.
“I know what happens with diabetics. A lot of them have to have their legs amputated because they don’t take care of their legs and feet. I didn’t want that to happen to me,” he said.
Solving a case like Heter’s is extremely satisfying for the staff at Wound Care Services, too.
“It makes you feel like you’ve done something good for the day when you beat an enemy like chronic wounds,” Dr. Halebian said. “It’s like getting a shout out at a hockey game. When you heal a wound, you’ve won.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of Henry Mayo’s wound care specialists, call 661-253-8458.