A growing number of people need help for troublesome wounds that won’t heal.The Center for Wound Healing at PMMC uses the latest technology to heal difficult wounds for patients with diabetes, vascular disease or other health issues.

“Chronic non-healing wounds are a major problem in medicine today,” says Dennis T. Monteiro MD, Medical Director of the Center for Wound Healing at PMMC. “Having these therapies in your ‘backyard’ makes recovery easier.”

Specialists at the wound center diagnose the underlying cause of the wound first and then prescribe a customized treatment plan.

“We might not be able to cure the cause, but we can do things to control it, such as using stents and angioplasty for those with arterial disease, or orthotic devices for those with foot problems,” says Dr. Monteiro.

In addition, patients undergo treatment to eliminate any infection. Surgeons then rid the wound of any dead tissue and prepare a specialized treatment regimen that gives the wound the best chance of healing.

The Wound Center offers two pressurized hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the best treatments for many patients at risk of losing a limb. The chambers are filled with 100-percent oxygen, increasing oxygen levels in the blood of the patient inside, which speeds healing.

The center also offers high-tech therapies, such as “smart bandages” that include synthetic skin substitutes and antimicrobial elements or “growth factor therapies.”

These types of bandages use naturally occurring substances to jump start the healing process.

Part of the nationally renowned Center for Wound Healing, PMMC's wound center strives to achieve the best healing rates and fastest healing times available, allowing patients to return to their regular daily activities as soon as possible. “Our business is combining the appropriate diagnosis with the best treatments available to create a comprehensive plan for the patient,” says Dr. Monteiro.