Special to Iredell Free News

Have you heard the phrase, “Time heals all wounds?”

While this saying can make us feel better in certain situations, it’s not necessarily true. Chronic wounds can linger for months and may not heal without proper treatment.

Especially as warm weather creeps in, it’s critical to keep an eye on wounds, even minor cuts and scrapes. Although warm temperatures bring fun in the sun, it also brings the potential for injuries. From cuts and burns to insect bites, wounds and sores can happen anywhere on the body, especially when you are spending more time outdoors. When your skin is broken, germs can enter your body, and open wounds. Even a small bug bite may become infected and cause serious complications.

If you find your sore or wound not healing as usual, it is time to seek medical care. That’s why having access to a specialized wound care center is crucial for a safe and enjoyable season.

Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center specializes in the treatment of non-healing, chronic wounds and offers an evidence-based, systematic approach to advanced wound care.

In the United States, chronic wounds affect 7 million people. This number is expected to rise by 2 percent each year over the next decade. The longer a chronic wound goes without treatment, the greater the risk of infection, hospitalization, and amputation.

“An aging population and increasing rates of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and later effects of radiation therapy, contribute to the chronic wound epidemic. Left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life, and possible amputation of the affected limb,” said Kayce Johnson, director of Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center.

To treat chronic wounds, Iredell Wound Care provides advanced, state-of-the-art treatments such as negative pressure wound therapy, total contact casting, bio-engineered tissues, biosynthetic dressings, and growth factor therapies. The center also offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which works by surrounding patients with 100 percent oxygen to help progress the healing of the wound.

The Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center treats wounds anywhere on the body. Conditions they treat can include, but are not limited to:
♦ Pressure ulcers;
♦ Soft tissue radiation injuries;
♦ Necrotizing infections;
♦ Compromised skin grafts and flaps;
♦ Burns;
♦ Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities;
♦ Osteomyelitis;
♦ Lymphedema;
♦ Malignant wounds; and
♦ Venus leg ulcer

To stay on the leading edge of wound care, the Center partners with an industry leader, Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of wound care services.

“As a Healogics Wound Care Center, Iredell Wound Care benefits from the company’s commitment to research to keep it on the leading edge of healthcare by utilizing their clinical practice guidelines to ensure continuity of care, as well as a high standard of care,” said Johnson.

Iredell Wound Care has successfully cared for patients with chronic wounds for 13 years. It is one of only three Healogics Wound Care Centers in North Carolina — and the only one in the greater Charlotte area — to receive both a Center of Distinction Award and Clinical Excellence Award.

The Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center is designed to complement your physicians’ services and is committed to the treatment of chronic or non-healing wounds. The Center is made up of a team of professionals, including:
♦ Providers with advanced training in wound management and hyperbaric oxygen therapy;
♦ Nursing staff trained in the care of chronic wounds;
♦ Technicians who perform noninvasive studies and various therapies; 
♦ Experienced staff to assist with appointments, medical records, and health insurance processing; and
♦ A personalized wound treatment program.

LEARN MORE

For more information on Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center, visit IredellWoundCare.com. To schedule an appointment at the center, please call 704-768-0542.

About Iredell Health System

Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; two urgent care centers; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest and only nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare facility has 247 beds; more than 1,800 employees; and has 260 physicians representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The Health System’s second campus, Iredell Mooresville, is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.