Wound Care Center

At the Wound Care Centers at Columbia St. Mary’s, a team of specially trained physicians and support staff is available to address your problem wounds. There are many factors that may delay or prevent the healing of wounds. With this in mind, the wound care team performs a complete history and physical exam to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient.

The treatment plan may include some or a combination of the following:

• Laboratory studies
• X-rays
• Vascular studies
• Surgical debridement to remove infected tissue and bone
• Antibiotic therapy
• Application of specialty dressings or ointments
• Use of crutches, wheelchairs or other off-loading techniques
• Nutritional supplements or counseling
• Physical therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen… Additional Therapy for Healing

Sometimes wounds will not respond to general wound care treatments alone. For some patients, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is an effective technology that supplements other treatment methods. During HBO therapy, you are placed in a pressurized chamber where you breathe 100 percent oxygen. This increases the presence of oxygen within the wound and aids in healing and the growth of new tissue.

Conditions That May Benefit from Wound Care and/or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

You will be thoroughly educated about HBO therapy prior to treatment. Your family also will be involved in the entire process. The referring physician will be kept informed of your progress with regular reports and photos of your wounds. Once your therapy is complete, you will return to your physician for long-term follow-up and monitoring.

HBO Therapy may be beneficial for some of the following wounds:

• Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity
• Wounds that have not healed in several weeks
• Post-radiation tissue injury
• Diabetes-related foot and ankle ulcers
• Crush injuries
• Venous stasis or arterial insufficiency ulcers
• Wounds caused by poor circulation or trauma
• Compromised grafts and flaps
• Gangrene
• Pressure ulcers
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

How to Make an Appointment
HBO therapy involves daily visits to the Wound Care Center for a period of three to four weeks, then follow-up wound care to monitor healing progress. If you’ve been missing out on the good things in life because of a wound that will not heal, consider visiting the Wound Care Centers at Columbia St. Mary's.

Our approach to would care, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, may be exactly what you need to return to your favorite activities.

Patients may directly access care at the Wound Care Centers or they may be referred by physicians or caregivers. Please call one of our locations to schedule an initial assessment.

Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee
2301 N.Lake Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-HEAL (4325)

Lakeside Commons
11725 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 150
Mequon, WI 53097
(262) 241-2128