Wound Care [9-22]

Hendricks Community Hospital strives to serve Hendricks and our surrounding communities. To inform our area patrons, we will be publishing topics about the services and specialties we offer at our local level. Various topics will be covered throughout the next several months to ensure our community is provided with the best knowledge in making their healthcare choices. Our goal is that you enjoy reading more about the services we provide and feel more confident in your decision-making.  

Hendricks Community Hospital Offering Wound Care Services

By Kennedy Tesch

Did you know that Hendricks Community Hospital Association has initiated a certified wound care program?

HCHA wants our community to have access to the most well-rounded local healthcare program possible. We are achieving this by providing a trained Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN) who has education and certification to help provide a specialized and comprehensive course of treatment to assist in healing wounds. A range of different wounds come through our clinic, hospital, and long-term care facilities that require a more specialized approach. Our CWOCN and wound care team utilizes the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing, offering our patients the best continuous care.

There are many different types of wounds. Vascular and diabetic-related wounds are the most common that we see come through our doors, but other types that our wound program can care for includes pressure sores, post-surgical and traumatic wounds. The wound nurse also specializes in ostomy care and can also assist with continence education and products.

Many variables go into wound care management and the CWOCN can help coordinate an individualized treatment plan. The CWOCN will work with your primary provider to assist with getting the most effective treatment options in place. Other options that can be coordinated to help with wound healing include the following:

·         infectious disease management

·         physical therapy

·         vascular evaluation

·         pain management

·         diabetic education

·         nutritional management.

How can I make an appointment to see a CWOCN?

You can call and request an appointment with wound care at any time. HCHA Wound Care can assist on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The goal is to teach the individual to provide their wound care at home between visits and to protect the wound from further complications. At the end of the day, the individual is the most vital part of their healing process but working with our wound care team can improve outcomes and success throughout the healing process.

How do I know if a friend, family member, or I need to see a CWOCN?

There are various reasons why an individual may need to see a wound care specialist. No matter how simple or complex the wound may be, wound care is here to help.  Some common examples include a new wound that an individual is unsure how to clean or properly care for, or a chronic wound that is slow healing or not healing at all. Other commons examples include sores to the bottom of the feet and toes that are not healing or showing signs of deterioration. If your wound is showing signs of pus, swelling, or redness, this indicates it is time to seek out wound care to evaluate.

How can I contact the Hendricks Community Hospital CWOCN team?

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it may be time to contact a wound care professional. You can start by calling the Hendricks Clinic and request to speak with members of the wound care team, Kali Manz, Certified Wound Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner, or Jenna Petersen, Registered Nurse, at 507-275-3134.