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Wound Care Center

NLR Wound Care Center

The BAPTIST HEALTH Wound & Hyperbaric Center, located on the North Little Rock campus at 3333 Springhill Drive, Suite 2002. For more information, call (501) 202-3638.

How do I know if I need the services of a Wound & Hyperbaric Center?

Anyone who has chronic, non-healing wounds may benefit from this innovative service designed specifically for evaluation and treatment of wounds. Many regular physicians' offices are not equipped with the special supplies and medications used to treat different types of problem wounds. In addition, a physician who has completed additional training in wounds may be helpful in sorting out the underlying cause of lack of healing.

Who Can Benefit from the Wound Care Center?

• Diabetics with non-healing wounds, certain foot wounds or previous amputations
• Patients with chronic Venous Stasis Ulcers
• Non-healing pressure wounds of lower extremities
• Patients who have had surgery and have compromised healing of their surgical wound
• The occasional cancer patient who develops “delayed radiation tissue injury” after radiation therapy
• Certain patients diagnosed with a serious brown recluse spider bite
• Any person who has a wound that lasts for more than a month or is getting worse

Common Conditions Treated:

•  Diabetic foot ulcers
•  Non-healing surgical or injury sites
•  Venous stasis ulcers
•  Arterial ulcers
•  Pressure ulcers
•  Burns

What would I experience at the Wound Care Center?

On every visit, each patient sees a physician who evaluates and directs his or her individual course of treatment. The physicians continue to work with the patient and the rest of our team to identify and treat the underlying causes of the nonhealing wound. Our team approach extends to other healthcare professionals who may be needed, including physical therapists,
nutritionists and surgeons. The Primary Care physician is kept informed of treatment and progress, and he or she continues to treat any other medical needs that may arise.

What might my treatment plan include?

The treatment program involves regular visits to the Wound & Hyperbaric Center, including measurement and evaluation of the wound to ensure proper healing, and to adjust treatment if any changes are necessary. Special medications or procedures that will promote healing may also be utilized. Patients are always involved in the plan of care and are instructed in ways to help with the healing process, including dressing changes, diet and lifestyle modifications. They are taught to monitor their own progress between visits and are asked to inform the Wound & Hyperbaric Center of any problems.

Specific Treatments Include:

•  Specialized Dressings - some have medicines or chemicals within the fibers of the dressing which promote healing and limit the potential for infection; there are also different levels of absorbancy, depending on need.
  Different types of dressings are indicated for different types of problems.
•  Specialized Outer Wraps - some wounds require extra compression of the tissue to heal correctly, while some require a unique shape to hold the dressings in place.
•  Debridement - some wounds have unhealthy tissue in the wound bed which must be removed before healthy tissue can grow.
•  Infection Control - any time there is an open wound, there is a chance for infection to become established. Wounds need to be monitored for infection, and treated, if necessary.
•  Bio-synthetic Grafts - synthetic skin substitutes may be needed to promote growth and development of skin during healing.
•  Vacuum-assisted Wound Closure - this procedure continuously removes debris and infectious material from the wound surface and promotes healing.
•  Nutritional Guidance - wounds need certain vitamins, minerals and proteins in order to heal properly.
•  Additional Medical Tests - to get to the underlying cause of why a wound won't heal, other tests may be needed.
•  Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for selected cases.
•  Transcutaneous Oximetry Measurement (TCOM) - Non-invasive testing for Peripheral Vascular Disease.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Breathing 100% oxygen under pressure greater than one atmosphere absolute (ATA). This occurs in a large single person chamber under the supervision of the physician and a specially trained technician.

Why Would a Wound Care Patient Need Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has a variety of benefits. It aids healing by promoting angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels into wounded tissues) and by fighting certain types of infection.

For more information, call BAPTIST HEALTH HealthLine at 227-8478 or toll-free statewide at 1-888-227-8478. You can also call the Wound & Hyperbaric Center directly at (501) 202-3638.