COLUMBUS — You have heard the popular saying, “Time heals all wounds.” But, in many cases, that is not always true. Some wounds can take weeks to heal and many will not heal completely without some type of medical intervention.
Patients who live in and around Lowndes County who suffer from a hard-to-heal wound now
have a local option for treatment. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle has opened a new Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center on the third floor of the hospital’s Fifth Street building.
The center offers comprehensive services to heal problem wounds through a program designed and equipped to deliver advanced wound care treatments. Physicians, nurses, technical and office staff work as a team to deliver complete care using treatments and advances in wound therapy.
The center represents a total investment of around $230,000 including the $46,000 hyperbaric oxygen chamber that delivers pressurized pure oxygen into the patient’s bloodstream, tissues and major organs. This infusion of pressurized oxygen allows the body to jumpstart the healing process.
“The specialized wound treatment team coordinates with the patient’s primary care or referring physician to design a treatment plan to meet the patient’s specific needs,” said Brandy Waldrop, RN, program director. “To prevent recurrence of future wounds, we place a strong emphasis on patient education and proper nutrition,” she added.
A wound is considered chronic if it has not healed significantly in four weeks or completely in eight weeks. There are several reasons why a wound may not heal, according to Anna Cox, chief clinical officer of Healthcare Plus, the company that manages the wound center.
These reasons can include infection, which can halt the healing process; poor circulation; poor nutrition; diabetes; excessive swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the skin; and inadequate offloading when a person is unable to reposition, Cox said. “Our team looks forward to providing excellent patient care resulting in optimal outcomes for every patient we are allowed the privilege to treat,” she added.
Baptist Golden Triangle’s program accepts patients by physician referral but also takes patients by self-referral. To make an appointment, call 662-244-1095 or 800-544-8762, ext. 1095.
With 315 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospital affiliated with the Memphis, Tennessee-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system. With physicians and surgeons representing almost every medical specialty practicing at the hospital, Baptist Golden Triangle offers a wide range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.
The hospital offers a variety of services to the community, including the Baptist Cancer Center, Baptist Behavioral Health Care for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an emergency room with 24-hour ambulance service, an extensive rehabilitation department, and educational programs. Baptist Golden Triangle employs more than 1,000 health care professionals.
For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit http://goldentriangle.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/baptistgoldentriangle
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