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HEALTH & WELLNESS
ADVERTISEMENT photos: Chris Jackson
Wound Center Medical Director Dr. Thomas Gilbert( above, right), together with Dr. Jayantilal Kadiwar( top), Dr. Emeric Palmer and the center’ s staff, provide holistic care for nonhealing wounds and utilize stateof-the-art hyperbaric therapy( above).
By the Numbers
The Wound Center treated 20,319 cases in 2012, 2,399 of which were hyperbaric treatments. Because of their aggressive, holistic approach to wound care, the center has achieved an amputation rate of less than 1 percent, compared to a national average of 3 percent. And, the Wound Center’ s average time-to-heal rate is about 12 weeks— four weeks shorter than the industry average of 16.
MERITUS HEALTH’ S WOUND CENTER
COMBINING STATE-OF-THE-ART TREATMENTS AND HOLISTIC CARE
Ifa wound won’ t heal, it not only
causes pain but diminishes quality of life. Wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and leg ulcers, bone infections, crush injuries and thermal burns, and preparation and preservation of skin grafts or flaps require specialized care. Led by Medical Director Dr. Thomas Gilbert III, the expert staff of Meritus Health’ s Wound Center provides comprehensive wound treatment plans that incorporate stateof-the-art technologies with a holistic approach. The Wound Center boasts two doctors board certified in hyperbaric medicine, including Dr. Gilbert, whose other specialties include emergency medicine and wound care. A second doctor on staff is trained in hyperbaric medicine, internal medicine and wound care, while a third specializes in wound care and emergency medicine. The center recently received its accreditation from the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society( UHMS), the primary source of scientific information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.
As the only facility in the region with four monoplace hyperbaric chambers( accommodating a single person each), the Wound Center provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy to speed wound healing. Because the chambers accommodate patients who may need IV antibiotics or require ventilator support, the center also is able to provide critical care treatment for patients, including those suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.“ We’ re the only facility right now in the region that’ s doing critical care treatments in a monoplace chamber,” says Dr. Gilbert.“ And we can give our patients IV antibiotics while they’ re in the hyperbaric chamber. Certain antibiotics work better under hyperbaric oxygen therapies,” and combining treatments saves time, he adds.
The Wound Center also utilizes Dermagraft and Apligraf, bioengineered skin grafts to rebuild skin to heal diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers and some burns. Comprised of living cells, the grafts contain growth factors to help the wound regenerate its own skin and tissue, resulting in a faster healing process.
The combination of these elements with a holistic approach to wound care results in better outcomes for patients.“ The biggest part of our center is that we look at the whole patient,” Dr. Gilbert says.“ We really do look for an underlying cause, which I think is really unique to us.” Doctors and nurses also make it a priority to see patients within 24 hours if they’ re having a problem with a wound.“ We all work together here. It’ s like a family,” Dr. Gilbert says,“ and I think that’ s why we have great outcomes.” l
MERITUS HEALTH’ S WOUND CENTER MERITUS MEDICAL CENTER
11116 Medical Campus Road Hagerstown, MD 21742 240-313-9580 • www. meritushealth. com / wound
106 March / April 2013 Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond