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Hope for Healing
An estimated 5 million Americans live with non-healing wounds. The St. Francis Wound Care Institute helps to mend what time alone cannot. Here at the only healing center of its kind for south-central Indiana, you will find sophisticated technology to mend your body and a delicate touch to strengthen your spirit.
Chronic, non-healing wounds occur most often in adults who suffer from:
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Vascular disease
- Venous stasis
- Arterial insufficiency
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Pressure ulcers
- Post-surgical wounds
- Trauma
- Burns
- Infected wounds
What is a non-healing wound?
Usually, wounds get significantly better on their own over several weeks. If you have wound that hasn’t healed on its own, ask your doctor about seeking innovative treatment from the specialists at the St. Francis Wound Care Institute.
Many wounds just don’t heal normally. Every year, chronic wounds keep millions of Americans just like you from enjoying life to its fullest. These wounds occur most often with people who have diabetes, poor blood circulation or other conditions.
At the St. Francis Wound Care Institute, patients with non-healing wounds get customized care and innovative treatments.
How can you help the healing process?
Much of the success of your treatment depends on you. We encourage you and your family to ask questions. You know your body best, and we want you to be completely aware of all that is going on. Be sure to keep your appointments, follow directions carefully and watch your progress closely between visits.
What will your healing program be like?
Every patient is different. So, too, is the nature of their wounds and the reasons they don’t heal on their own. At the Wound Care Institute, you will be under the care of a multidisciplinary team who will design a program based on your specific needs.
Wound specialists work with you and your doctor — as well as with cardiologists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, infectious disease specialists, vascular surgeons and plastic surgeons — not only to treat your wounds, but also to uncover the underlying cause of their chronic nature. This extra step is critical in making the right treatment decision, so your body will be better prepared to heal naturally on its own in the future.
Certified wound care nurses will work with you to achieve your individual goals. The wound care team also will work closely with your family, as appropriate, to educate them on the treatment options and to better help in your recovery.
Your customized program will include regular visits for treatment, to check your progress and to make any adjustments necessary to your healing plan. We’ll give you (and your caregiver) instructions for care at home.
Principles of healing
The St. Francis Wound Care Institute is guided by our principles of healing — an approach we developed from our experiences in treating people and that has shown exceptional success.
What advanced options are available?
The Wound Care Institute has the resources and expertise to offer people a variety of treatment options to accelerate healing.
One such option is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Breathing pressurized oxygen has been shown to optimize healing in certain cases and can be pivotal in wound healing for those patients at risk for losing a limb. People who require this therapy receive treatment once a day, five days a week. Your wound care team will determine if HBOT is to be a part of your treatment plan.
During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, patients can watch television, listen to music, sleep or even speak with the clinician.
Hope for healing
The Wound Care Institute is part of the full-service St. Francis health care system. First established in 1998 in Beech Grove, the Institute has a second location in Mooresville. With two centers, we are able to meet a full spectrum of patient needs with a wide range of specialized service, including the only program of its kind to treat diabetes foot and ankle care and limb preservation on Indianapolis’ south side.
For more information or to make an appointment, call or visit our web site at www.stfrancishospitals.org.
Phone: Beech Grove (317) 783-8014, Mooresville (317) 834-4300
Some questions patients may want to ask are:
- How long will the wound take to heal?
- Can I put pressure on the wound at all if it’s bandaged?
- Will I also need physical therapy?
- Anything I can do to prevent this from happening again?
- If your physical activity has been limited, ask for suggestions on how to keep your mind active while your wounds heal.
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