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NEW CLINIC AT ST. PETER’S HEALTH ADVANCES WOUND CARE
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Courtesy of St. Peter’s Health
St. Peter’s Health is excited to offer a new service to people in the community living with chronic wounds. Led by Dr. John Galt, General Surgeon, the St. Peter’s Health Wound Care Center offers specialized wound care in Helena for the first time.
The Center is located at the Regional Medical Center (hospital) and includes a dedicated outpatient clinic in the Maria Dean Wing. The Wound Care Center is the only clinic in the area to offer state-of-the-art Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), a highly effective treatment for a variety of conditions.
“This is the first time that St. Peter’s will have an outpatient clinic dedicated to wound care,” Galt said. “We have a great foundation from our experience caring for people with chronic wounds in the inpatient and limited outpatient setting. The dedicated, specialized center will allow us to provide more highly specialized care in a new, healing-focused environ- ment.”
The St. Peter’s team is partnering with Healogics, Inc. to operate the clinic. Healogics is the world’s largest wound care management organization, an organization that
delivers evidence-based care and excellent clinical outcomes that include a 93 percent healing rate with 28 median days-to-heal.
Leveraging Healogic’s support and experience, the local
St. Peter’s team will offer state-of-the-art treatments. Depending on clinical evaluation, treatments may include but are not limited to debridement, dressing selection, special shoes, revascularization and patient education.
Over 6.7 million Americans live with chronic wounds. Clinicians and public health experts expect the number of people living with wounds will grow over the next decade due to an aging population and the increased prevalence of some diseases and conditions like diabetes.
“No one should have to live with a non-healing wound,” said St. Peter’s Wound Care Director Jane O’Driscoll, PT. “Often, people with wounds will suffer in silence or delay care. Whether your non-healing wound is the result of a surgery, trauma or chronic condition, we can help.”
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, is a medical treatment some times used to treat chronic wounds. Patients lay on a stretcher inside a transparent chamber and breathe 100 percent oxygen.
How does HBOT work?
HBOT increases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to wound
tissue. White blood cell activity is also enhanced. HBOT also accelerates the formation of blood vessels at the wound site.
Who can benefit from HBOT?
People with wounds that haven’t healed in four weeks should ask their provider for more information. HBOT is often used to treat diabetic foot ulcers, radiation injuries to tissue and bone, and compromised skin grafts.
Learn more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
SPRING 2021 B2B - A Publication of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce 29