Grundy County Memorial Hospital | Live Well | Winter 2019

F cus on GCMH Specialty Services >> 5 Wound Clinic helps heal chronic wounds Time, it’s said, heals all wounds. Maybe that’s true in matters of the heart. But physical wounds sometimes need extra help. In particular, chronic or nonheal- ing wounds often require special care. And that’s where the wound clinic experts at the GCMH Specialty Clinic can help. They can use the latest techniques in caring for wounds that are slow to heal or that don’t improve on their own. There are many types of problem wounds, including arterial and venous ulcers on the legs, pressure sores, nonhealing surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers and wounds after cancer treatment. The Wound Clinic is available each Tuesday at the GCMH Specialty Clinic. Wound Clinic provider Mandy Vervaecke, ARNP, works closely with your doctor to tailor a treatment plan for you. “A chronic wound can be very painful and difficult for a person to deal with,” says Vervaecke. “Once a patient is referred to us, we strive to treat the whole person, not simply their wound. Our close-knit atmosphere and the relationships we form with patients are part of the healing process.” Depending on the type of wound and other factors, some of the treatment options may include: Debridement. Dead tissue—which slows healing time and can harbor infection-causing bacteria—is removed using surgical instruments, gel that contains enzymes or other methods. Special dressings. These contain foams, gels and absorbent seaweed product and may be applied to maintain a clean, appropriate environment for faster healing. Antibiotics for infections or growth-factor medicines that help support healing also may be applied to wounds. Negative pressure wound therapy. This is also known as vacuum-assisted closure. It involves using a device to create negative pressure (a vacuum) at well-sealed wound sites. Taking pressure off a wound. This includes using special braces, shoe in- serts and casts—a wound care practice known as off-loading. Once your wound is healed, clinic staff can help you understand what you can do to help prevent it from returning. Often, this involves addressing risk factors that may have contributed to your wound. Specialty Clinic Visiting Specialists Audiology Seema Arab, AuD Cardiology and Echocardiogram Kalyana Sundaram, MD Kari Haislet, DNP Abbie Schrader, ARNP Dermatology Angela Buttjer, PA-C Ear Nose & Throat/Skin Cancer David J. Congdon, MD, MPH, FACS Tricia Thompson, ARNP Gastroenterology/Hepatology Srinivas Kalala, MD Tracy Elliott, ARNP General Surgery/Colonoscopy Paul Burgett, MD, FACS Nephrology T. Michel Daoud, MD Vinay K. Kantamneni, MD Oncology Wael Ghalayini, MD Ophthalmology Benjamin Mason, MD Orthopedics Robert B. Bartelt, MD Podiatry Stephen Solomon, DPM Psychiatric Social Work & NP Debra Estes, LISW Kelsie Swisher, ARNP GCMH Services Anti-Coagulation Ariel Loring, PharmD Andrew Washburn, PharmD GCMH Orthopedics Douglas Cooper, MD Pain Management W. Keith Barnhill, PhD, ARNP, CRNA, DAAPM Sleep Disorders GCMH Sleep Service Wound Healing Amanda Vervaecke, ARNP CALL 319-824-5081 or 888-824-5081 Wound Clinic provider Mandy Vervaecke, ARNP (left), and clinic nurses Chelsey Thilges, RN (center), and Ashley Steinmeyer, RN, show off the clinic bell that patients are invited to ring when they complete treatment at the GCMH Wound Clinic.