Patients Benefit From Wound Center Expertise

Patients Benefit From Wound Center Expertise

The Wound Center at Lima Memorial offers a multi-disciplinary panel of experienced physicians and nurses trained in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients in need of care for their chronic, non-healing wounds.

Backed by Wilfred J.G. Ellis, M.D., medical director, the Wound Center offers advanced technology, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy with two monoplace chambers on site. They have 24/7 coverage, including emergency and on-call cases. "If we did not offer 24/7 coverage, our patients would be transferred to Toledo, Dayton or Columbus; we are the only center in the region to offer around- the-clock coverage," stated Laura Karhoff, a registered nurse in the Wound Center.

The registered nurses in the Wound Center are second to none. They have advanced training in wound care from distinguished training centers throughout the United States. In addition to their training and maintaining their competencies, two of the nurses are certified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

"The Wound Center is the most experienced in the area. We are known state-wide for pioneering the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound care and other medical uses," explains Dr. Ellis. "Only Wright Patterson Air Force Base has more experience then
LMHS in HBO therapy."

The Wound Center is equipped to help patients with all types of wounds, including:

• Diabetic wounds
• Ulcers
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Venous stasis
• Lymphedema
• Traumatic and post-op surgical non-healing wounds

The center, located across from the Outpatient Treatment Unit on the first floor of the Patient Services Building, also handles emergency cases such as smoke inhalations from fires, malfunctioning genera- tors or HVAC equipment, suicide attempts and decompression illness from deep water diving.

If you have a patient with a non-healing wound, the Wound Center recommends getting a culture of the wound before referring the patient to the center. This will allow the Wound Center to determine which antibiotic to use when they see the patient.

Referrals and appointments to the Wound Center can be made by calling 419-998-4410.