About Wound Care Specialists 

Who They Are

Nurses

Nurses, a variety of specialty physicians, physical therapists and medical technicians all work together as a multidisciplinary team to deliver care to patients with acute, chronic and non-healing wounds of all types. They work in acute care hospitals, emergency rooms, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics and other health care facilities.

 

Nurses clean, treat and dress wounds as well as teach patients and their families how to care for the wound at home. Educating the patient and family is important to not only promote healing but to help watch for signs of infection that can delay healing and extend the need for professional care. Nurses are instrumental in developing and executing a formal plan of care for the patient.

 

Physicians 

Physicians caring for wounds may come from several different disciplines including general surgery, vascular surgery, podiatry and dermatology, among others. Other medical specialists may become involved in patient care, depending upon the origin, location and extent of the wound. Plastic surgery may be another involved discipline. Doctors also attain certification through the American Academy of Wound Management to become a Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWSP).

A primary care physician is often the referring doctor and is instrumental in coordinating communication and therapy among the team of wound care specialists.

Physical therapists in some health care facilities work with patients requiring wound care. They specialize in treatment modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, whirlpool and compression therapy, among others.

 

Reasons for Seeking a Wound Care Specialist

Wound care specialists deliver cutting-edge health care. As a multidisciplinary team, the combined expertise and diverse clinical knowledge may cover a wide range of modalities to improve the patient's wound healing and thus, improve their quality of life.

Some wounds the health care team treats may include:

• Acute wounds in an emergency room

• Post-operative wounds

• Pressure wounds and bed sores

• Diabetic ulcers

• Vascular ulcers

• Radiation wounds

A patient with a wound that has not healed after one month of conventional therapy is often referred to a wound care specialist for further evaluation and treatment. The wound specialist may add new therapies such as a specialized treatment like the hyperbaric oxygen chamber to improve the healing process. Hyperbaric treatments provide 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber to aid healing.

A key role of a wound specialist lies in patient and family education. Wounds heal differently for everyone and improvements are not seen overnight. Wound specialists need to demonstrate patience and compassion to their patients as they navigate the often long road to recovery.

 

-Woundcarecenters.org