Making Rounds
In its new location on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center offers advanced care for wounds that are chronic and slow to heal. And the solutions go far beyond cleaning and dressing.
“Our role is to help uncover the underlying issues that are leading to these wounds,” said Samantha Horowitz, DO, a family medicine doctor who is board certified by the American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery (ABWMS). “These wounds don’t just occur in isolation. They’re really the outward manifestation of some internal disruptions.”
For a patient with a diabetic foot ulcer, for example, keeping blood sugar under control and keeping pressure off the affected area are essential to healing. So beyond how the wound itself is treated, that patient will likely benefit from nutrition education and access to therapeutic footwear.
“Wound care often involves a very multidisciplinary approach,” Dr. Horowitz said, “so we work with everyone around us to help with both treatment and prevention.”
Kristen McGinness, DPM, is a podiatrist who works closely with patients in the Wound Care Center.
"From diabetic foot wounds to complex lower-extremity conditions, our podiatry specialists bring focused expertise to the healing process," Dr. McGinniss said. "Our goal is to treat the wound, address contributing factors and help patients return to the activities they enjoy."
For some types of wounds, healing may be assisted by hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This involves resting inside a pressurized chamber to breathe pure oxygen.
“That helps the body to form new blood vessels,” said Dr. Horowitz, “which increases blood flow and gets oxygen into the tissues that need to heal. It also helps to fight infections in the wound.”
Falisha Winters, NP, has been working in wound care for four years now. She enjoys getting to know her patients and helping them understand how hard their bodies are working to heal.
“Everything on the outside is affected by what’s happening inside,” she said. “So nutrition is a big part of healing. Keeping blood sugar low and getting plenty of protein, things like that are so important.”
While the process is rarely quick or easy, Winters said the outcomes make the long road worth it.
“It’s always rewarding to see someone heal,” she said, “and to see them realize they’re making progress. Especially if they were very discouraged at first.”
Dr. Horowitz agreed. Like the wound itself, she said, the healing is way more than skin deep.
"You really do develop connections with these patients,” she said, “and you see how getting better can improve their social life, their mental health, everything. It gives them hope that life can be a whole lot better.”
