Venous Skin Ulcer Diabetic Foot Wounds Burns What is a VAC? Wound Healing and Nutrition
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Who we are
Our staff has special training in the care of skin diseases, skin wounds, burns, and ostomy problems. We have a combined experience of over 100 years in wound care! Many patients can be treated by the nurses with a physician’s order. Physicians will see some of our new patients who require a specialist. These physicians are: Dr. Joel Gotvald, vascular and general surgeon, and Dr. Judd Davis and Dr. Tim Carlsen, podiatrists with special interests and skills in treating lower leg and foot wounds. A special treatment technique, Total Contact Casting, is used to provide quicker healing for diabetic foot wounds.
Where we are
We are located at the St. Francis Health Care Center, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue. This is at the intersection of Institute and Pikes Peak. Drive south on Institute ½ block to the parking lot on the east side of the Health Care Center. Six parking spots are reserved for the Wound Clinic and there are many handicapped spots as well. The Wound Clinic is just inside the door facing the parking lot.
Hours of operation
- Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Frequency of appointments is determined once we see your wound. Follow up appointments will be scheduled at each visit if needed.
- Cancellations by patients reduce the healing quality of wounds.
- Every effort should be made to reschedule the visit promptly.
Conditions we treat
- Chronic cellulitis and/or skin ulcers
- Diabetic ulcers including Charcot’s foot
- Epidermolysis Bullosa
- Frostbite
- Herpes (i.e., shingles)
- Injection injuries
- Lymphedema
- Minor infections (i.e., dog bite, cat bite, snake bite, etc.)
- Ostomies
- Pemphigus
- Pilonidal Cyst
- Pressure ulcers
- Pyoderma Gangrenosum
- Radiation skin disorder
- Scleroderma ulcerations
- Skin breakdown around tubes and stomas
- Skin grafts
- Steroid skin
- Surgical wounds that have not healed
- TENS (Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome)
- Venous or arterial insufficiency ulcers
- Necrotizing Fascitis (NF)
- Paronychia
- VAC (Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure)
- Wounds from trauma
How do I make an appointment?
- You must have a referral from a physician.
- If you have insurance, an authorization from that insurance company is usually required.
- If you have Medicare or Secure Horizons, you do not need an authorization
- Once we have a physician’s order and insurance authorization, we will call you to schedule an appointment.
- Please preregister by calling (719) 776-8010 before your appointment time.
- Co-pays are due at the time of service.
What happens when I come to the Wound Clinic?
- We will ask about your health history, so please bring a list of your medications, allergies and surgeries.
- A registered nurse will examine your wound and along with your doctor, decide what is the best treatment.
- Treatment will be provided on your first visit. Depending on the type of wound, how often you have to return will be decided at that time.
- The registered nurses will teach you how to take care of your wound until the next time you come.
- The registered nurses will discuss what to do to heal your wound quickly and ways to prevent future wounds.
- You will be able to get dressings (if needed for home dressing changes) at the St. Francis Outpatient Pharmacy, or the staff can assist you with information on ordering from your insurance company’s approved dressing supplier.
Does it hurt?
- While working on your wound, we apply medicine that numbs the skin and your wound.
- If you normally take pain medication for wound pain, do so before you come to the Wound Clinic. Be careful that you do not drive if the medicine can make you sleepy. Ask someone to drive you instead.
Our success rate
Comparing our healing information from the last 12 month’s with data from 1134 other Wound Centers, our wounds heal faster than the national average (64 days vs. 68 days, nationally).
Contact us
If you have questions or want more information, call (719) 776–8050.
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