Advanced Wound Care and Recovery
Complex wounds that do not heal with standard treatment may require advanced wound care in a setting that allows for comprehensive medical treatment, oversight from wound care specialists and an extended recovery period.
One type of wound that may require advanced wound care are pressure ulcers, which are caused when a person remains in the same position for too long, resulting in decreased blood circulation and tissue damage. Often the immobility is caused by advanced age or an underlying condition, which can further obstruct the wound healing process. Pressure ulcers that have broken through the top two layers of the skin, leaving an open wound, require specialized treatment to remove damaged tissue and prevent or treat infection. Untreated pressure ulcers can lead to a variety of complications, and in some cases can be life-threatening.
Surgical wounds sometimes require advanced wound care if the incision does not heal as expected due to an infection, medical conditions such as diabetes, advanced age or a weakened immune system. These open wounds often require treatment from a wound care specialist, which may include wound irrigation, debridement, negative pressure wound therapy and skin or tissue grafting.
Other types of wounds or conditions that may indicate a need for advanced wound care are:
- Infections requiring IV antibiotics
- Wounds requiring frequent dressing changes
- Amputations
- Diabetic ulcers
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Osteomyelitis
- Peripheral artery disease
- Venous stasis
- Post-trauma
- Burns
- Arterial wounds
Wound Care Recovery
Difficult and complex wounds require a specialized treatment methodology that accounts for the complete medical picture of each patient. At Kindred Hospitals, we take an interdisciplinary team approach to wound care. These teams, led by renowned wound care specialists, include physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers and case managers, who work together to create comprehensive care plans that consider the stages of wound healing and all factors that may impact recovery.
Whether we’re providing burn care, treatment for a cellulitis abscess, debridement or vacuum assisted wound therapy, the wound care teams at Kindred Hospitals are driven by the goal of achieving the highest possible level of recovery for every patient.
Our teams develop wound care treatment plans that:
- Improve overall emotional well-being
- Improve ability to perform daily activities
- Improve quality of life, increasing independence and self-reliance
- Help prevent complications and hospitalizations
- Increase knowledge about disease process and its management
- Increase strength and endurance
“At Kindred Hospitals, our wound care specializes in treating the most complex and slow healing wounds, implementing care plans that improve blood flow, prevent complications and increase the body’s ability to heal. Our physicians, therapists, and specialists strive to help every person who requires advanced wound care achieve a successful recovery and return to a full, active lifestyle.”
Success Spotlight: Gerry's Story
On the Road to Recovery
Gerry was admitted to Kindred Hospital for advanced wound care. He had extensive wounds including a large abdominal wound, drains and a colostomy. He was severely deconditioned and was unable to move himself in bed. Gerry needed nighttime Bi-PAP and daytime oxygen and required total nursing care for all aspects of his care.
Kindred’s rehabilitation team worked closely with the nursing and wound care team to help Gerry with his goals of mobility and returning home. Therapy started slowly in order to build his endurance and strength. Because of Gerry’s abdominal wound, he lost most of his core strength and required maximum assistance from two people to roll and turn in bed. With repetition of compensatory techniques and practice, he was able to roll with independence and eventually sit at the edge of the bed with minimal assistance.
Continued therapy sessions focused on sitting balance, arm strengthening and increasing his endurance. Gerry advanced to standing trials with a walker and the assistance of two people. Gerry diligently performed upper body exercises and sat in a chair several times a day. His continued effort outside of therapy sessions helped him progress to increased activity tolerance.
Gerry was discharged to a subacute rehabilitation facility for continued therapy with plans to progress home. “Thanks to the wound experts at Kindred, I have my life back,” said Gerry several weeks after he returned home. “They supported me through all my phases of wound healing, keeping me focused on recovery. I can’t imagine having gone through that at any other wound care center.”