by Mark Miranda, Gazette Contributing Writer
 

The Wound Healing Center at Kessler Hospital has served Hammonton and the surrounding communities for the past 14 years, and like a fine wine, it has become better with age.
The Center offers a full range of services for any type of wound. It primarily works with chronic non-healing wounds as it continues to work closely with the doctors in the community.
Open five days a week and accepting all insurances, the Center has had more than 43,000 visits with a 90 percent healing rate.
How do I know if I need the services of the Wound Healing Center?
Simple. Just ask your doctor. Anyone who has a wound may benefit from this innovative program designed specifically for evaluation and treatment of wounds. Your physician can refer patients to the Center because of the intensive specialized treatment plan the Center provides. The Center works closely with the patients’ primary care physician to address all of their medical needs. If you are unsure, call the Center and they will work with you to find the best solution to your questions.
What types of wounds can be treated at the Wound Care Center?
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Non-healing surgical or injury sites
• Venous disease
• Arterial disease
• Pressure ulcers
• Burns
• Trauma
What would I experience at the Wound Care Center?
Patients are seen by wound care specialists, a physician and a nurse, every visit to the Wound Care Center. A complete medical history and examination is done, and as necessary, blood or other tests may be performed. After the initial evaluation, the wound management team develops a plan of care based on individual needs. The treatment plan involves regular visits to the Wound Healing Center, including measurement and evaluation of current status of the wound. Changes in the treatment plan are made to ensure the best and most efficient plan to care for proper healing. Special medications or procedures are frequently used to promote healing.
Patients are always involved in the plan of care and are instructed in ways to help with the healing process, including dressing changes, diet, smoking cessation and lifestyle modifications. They are taught to monitor their own progress between visits and are asked to inform the Wound Healing Center of any problems. The patient and family are an integral part of the healing process that includes dressing changes, nutritional modification, exercise and the willingness of the patient to commit to being part of the wound healing process.
What might my treatment plan include?
• Specialized Dressings - some have medicines or chemicals within the fibers of the dressing which promote healing and limit the potential for infection; there are also different levels of absorbancy, depending on need.
Different types of dressings are indicated for different types of problems.
• Specialized Outer Wraps - some wounds require extra compression of the tissue to heal correctly, while some require a unique shape to hold the dressings in place.
• Debridement - some wounds have unhealthy tissue in the wound bed which must be removed before healthy tissue can grow.
• Infection Control - any time there is an open wound, there is a chance for infection. Wounds need to be monitored for infection, and treated, if necessary.
• Bio-synthetic Grafts - synthetic skin substitutes may be needed to promote growth and development of skin during healing.
• Vacuum-assisted Wound Closure - this procedure continuously removes debris and infectious material from the wound surface and promotes healing.
• Nutritional Guidance - wounds need certain vitamins, minerals and proteins in order to heal properly. Diabetic education and general nutritional support is also offered.
• Vascular Intervention - there is a need to have an adequate blood supply to the area of the wound. Several techniques are available to improve this.
• Additional Medical Tests - to get to the underlying cause of why a wound won’t heal, other tests may be needed.
The Team
Angelo Luzzi, DPM, CWS, Podiatric Surgeon, Co-Medical Director
Brian Smeal, MD, FACS, General Surgeon, Co-Medical Director
David Weiss, DPM, Podiatric Surgeon
Robert Olson, MD, FACS, Plastic Surgeon
Alexia Matta RN, Wound Specialist
Patty Powell, RN, Wound Specialist
Vicki Munno, RN, Wound Specialist
G. Elliot Bainbridge, RN, Program Director
Lindsay DeMaio, Office Manager
The Wound Healing Center is located at 630 South White Horse Pike in Hammonton. Call 561-5551 to schedule an appointment.