Wound care
Wound care involves medical interventions to heal a wound after injury. Specialized treatment is provided for wounds that are nonhealing or refuse to heal on their own. A vital aspect of treatment includes learning how to properly dress and care for a wound.
Wound healing center in Hudson, Florida
Nonhealing wounds are painful, and they can also be a danger to your health.
HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital is here to help. For over two decades, the specialists in our Wound Care Center have provided wound healing services on the Nature Coast.
Our wound care specialists have helped thousands of patients heal through ongoing assessments, comprehensive education and innovative therapies. We work with you to craft a personalized care plan to heal your wound and help prevent reoccurrences.
Types of wounds we treat
Wounds vary greatly in terms of size, severity, cause and healing time. Chronic, or nonhealing, wounds are classified as wounds that do not heal after a month. Our wound care specialists have experience treating various types of nonhealing wounds, including:
- Abrasions
- Avulsions
- Incisions
- Lacerations
- Punctures
Our wound treatment services
The physicians at our Wound Care Center will carefully evaluate your wound and medical history to provide the appropriate medical intervention to facilitate wound healing. We offer a variety of treatments at our center, and your treatment plan will be determined by the size, location and nature of your wound.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
We are proud to offer HBOT, an advanced wound healing treatment, at our Wound Care Center. This therapy allows you to enter a hyperbaric chamber where you breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.
The increase of pure oxygen in the blood stream allows for an expedited rate of healing, as higher amounts of healthy, oxygen rich blood are delivered directly to the wound.
Convenient location and hours
The Wound Care Center is located next door to HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital in the Hospital Medical Plaza. Free parking is available.
Our hours of operation are:
Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Friday from 8:00am to 2:00pm
Please note if you need emergency care for a wound, you may come to our hospital's 24/7 emergency room (ER) for treatment.
Understanding the wound healing process
Understanding the wound healing process can be helpful as you learn how to manage and care for your wound.
A normal, healing wound typically follows three stages of healing:
- Phase one — This is when special cells gather to form a seal around damaged blood vessels and nerves while other cells start cleaning the wound.
- Phase two — Growth factors, which are found in the proteins of certain types of blood cells, stimulate the formation of new connective tissue to promote wound healing.
- Phase three — Collagen forms and provides the structure and strength needed to create a new outer layer of skin.
Factors that may prevent successful wound healing
The entire wound healing process can take up to two years for final strength and structure to be fully developed. However, this wound healing process can be impaired by internal and external factors, such as:
- Certain conditions, such as diabetes and vascular disorders
- Infection
- Insufficient blood supply
- Insufficient flow of oxygen
- Malnutrition
- Medical treatments, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and steroid medications
Preventing chronic wounds
If any of the factors above apply to you, you may be at a greater risk for developing a chronic wound. Luckily, there are preventive measures you can take to reduce your chance of developing a chronic wound, including:
- Visit your doctor promptly if you have an injury. Even minor conditions, such as skin tears, can develop into chronic wounds.
- Notify your doctor if your wound is not healing after one month of treatment.
- Keep pressure off the wounded area.
- If you have diabetes, focus on controlling your blood glucose level through diet, exercise and any prescribed medication. Abnormal glucose levels can interrupt the healing process.
- If you have diabetes or vascular disease, practice proper foot care and always wear properly fitting shoes.
If you think you may be at risk for chronic wounds, talk to your doctor about your current health and how you can prevent wounds.
The Healthy Living Blog
Fresh knowledge and insights in and around healthcare industry.