There are some wounds that time alone can’t heal. Without advanced therapies, it may take years or even decades for healing to occur. In extreme cases, some wounds do not respond to treatment and amputation becomes necessary.

Fortunately, the newly established Center for Wound Healing at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) will offer state-of-the-art, specialized wound healing care. PMMC has partnered with the nationally renowned Center for Wound Healing, which has some of the best healing rates and fastest healing times in the nation.

Wound healing helps diabetics
“Diabetics are especially at risk for developing wounds that often go undiagnosed,” says PMMC’s Chief Nursing Officer Kim Jack. “Diabetes affects the vascular and neurological systems, putting the diabetic at risk for wounds that are not painful, especially on the feet.

“These wounds often progress to serious infections that may require amputation. Many times the wounds will heal only with advanced wound therapies,” explains Ms. Jack.

The center’s doctors and clinical staff are skilled in the latest therapeutic methods in wound management and stay abreast of cutting-edge information through continuous training. Patients will be treated with state-of-the-art technology from having their progress charted through digital photographs to, in some cases, being treated in one of the two hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

Podiatrist John P. Dahdah, DPM, believes the wound healing center will be a terrific asset to the community. “As a physician whose patients can benefit greatly from a local wound care center, I am extremely pleased to have this service available locally,” says Dr. Dahdah.

“As a certified wound care specialist I treat diabetic and vascular wounds of the lower extremity that often require an advanced level of care that can be offered by a wound care center. The opportunity for different medical specialties to work together to improve patient outcomes is the strength of a wound care center,” Dr. Dahdah continues. “I am excited by the development of the hyperbaric oxygen chambers that will be an asset in healing these difficult wounds.”

Who should seek wound healing treatment?
Likely candidates for treatment include those with diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, compromised skin grafts and flaps, and wounds that haven’t healed within 30 days. The center’s hyperbaric oxygen chambers can also be used to treat patients suffering from such uncommon ailments as cyanide poisoning, gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, brown recluse spider bites and the “bends,” or decompression sickness.