Monday, November 12, 2007
Sacred Heart Recognized for Hyperbaric Therapy Program
Sacred Heart Hospital’s Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine has been awarded accreditation by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS).
The UHMS is an international professional organization that establishes standards of excellence and quality for hyperbaric medicine programs. There are over 800 hyperbaric facilities in the United States. The Sacred Heart facility is one of only 75 facilities to receive full accreditation by the UHMS and is the only accredited facility in Northwest Florida.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides 100 percent oxygen to patients under pressure, helping to heal damaged tissues, reduce swelling and improve circulation. The therapy increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood, so more oxygen is delivered to injured tissue. In turn, this stimulates small blood vessel and skin growth and helps fight infection.
“The accreditation process for wound care and hyperbaric facilities is a method of identifying those centers that bring together the medical, nursing and technical expertise to provide outstanding care in a safe environment. We’re pleased that our center has successfully passed this rigorous review process and achieved accreditation,” said Debbie Bostic, president of Sacred Heart Hospital.
During hyperbaric therapy at the Wound Care Center, patients sit or lie inside a large, comfortable hyperbaric chamber and receive 100 percent oxygen under atmospheric pressure greater than sea level. When more traditional wound care does not succeed, hyperbaric medicine is effective in treating many problem wounds such as:
• Non-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers and ulcers caused by delayed effects of radiation
• Radiation damage to bone and tissue
• Failing skin grafts or flaps
“Our team is highly credentialed and provides excellent customer service to our patients,” said Dr. John May, medical director of hyperbaric medicine at Sacred Heart. “This means less pain, less time and less expense for the patient in recovering from their wound.”
The physicians serving the Wound Care Center patients include:
Dr. Stuart Harlin - Vascular Surgery - Wound Center Medical Director
Dr. John May - Family Practice - Hyperbaric Medical Director
Dr. Ludovic Lasquety- General Surgery
Dr. Joseph Kiefer - Podiatry
Dr. Matthew Etheridge - Podiatry
Dr. Rick Bellard - Family Practice/ Hyperbarics
Dr. Wendy Wozniak - Family Practice/ Hyperbarics
Dr. Adam Tarnoski - Family Practice/ Hyperbarics
For more information, please contact the Sacred Heart Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at 416-2500 or visit www.sacred-heart.org.
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