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THE WOUND HEALING CENTER
at DCH Regional
Medical Center marked its fifth year of service to patients
inWest Alabama earlier this year. Since theWound Healing
Center opened in early 2007, there have been more than
27,300 patient visits, said Wound Healing Center Manager
Chuck Grosche. “Becausemany patients havemore than one
wound, we have healed more than 3,351 wounds,” he added.
The Wound Healing Center specializes in the treatment
of chronic wounds and wounds that don’t heal within a
certain period of time. It offers hospital-based outpatient
wound care, diabetes care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
“We are experts at caring for people whose open sores
WOUND HEALING CENTER
HERE TO HELP YOU HEAL
have resisted traditional treatment,”
Grosche said.
“Saving arms and legs is the one
area that the Wound Healing Center
most impacts that people may not
be as aware of,” he said. “If a wound
progresses to the point where a leg
or foot amputation is required, the
initial cost is approximately $65,000,
and the lifetime cost of caring
can exceed half a million dollars.
Even minor amputations, such as
removing a big toe, cost an average of $23,000.”
The experienced teamat theWoundHealing Center treats
wounds, ulcers and a variety of types of skin, bone and tissue
conditions, as well as accidents and injuries, such as crush
injuries and decompression illness or air gas embolism.
EXPERTS ON YOUR SIDE
“We continually try to
enhance our services and our team of caregivers,”
Grosche said. “In the past year, Dr. Josh Argo, a surgeon,
and Dr. Keith DeBell, internal medicine and endocri-
nology, joined our team of physicians that includes
Dr. John O. Waits, Dr. Joey Falgout, Dr. Andy Harrell
and Dr. Joseph Wallace, surgeons, and Dr. Barry New-
som, cardiovascular surgeon. Dr. Timothy Winkler is
Medical Director of the Wound Healing Center.”
Established by National Healing Corporation of Boca Ra-
ton, Fla., and partnered with the Regional Medical Center,
the Wound Healing Center provides high quality wound
healing programs. NHC, one of the most comprehensive
wound-healing companies in the nation, in partnership
with Ohio State University, operates the largest research
institute dedicated solely to the healing of wounds.
“Whatever it takes for healing to occur, the Wound
Healing Center is equipped and staffed to make it hap-
pen,” Grosche said.
You don’t need a physician referral—just call
205-
750-5430
to make an appointment.
The Wound Healing Center is on the second floor
of the Phelps Outpatient Center on the campus of the
Regional Medical Center.
For more information, visit
www.dchsystem.com
and
select “Wound Healing Center” from the list of
“Centers of Excellence” under “Featured Links.”
Chuck Grosche,
Wound Healing
Center Program
Director
OUT AND ABOUT
If you’ll be traveling in warm cli-
mates, be sure to keep your insulin cool. An insulated
bag and some refrigerated gel packs should do the trick.
In addition, keep your medical insurance card with
you at all times, along with a list of emergency phone
numbers, including one for your physician.
As you travel, you may be more active than usual or
end up eating foods that you aren’t used to. So plan to
keep a close eye on your diabetes and to check your blood
sugar level more often than usual.
Sources: American Diabetes Association; National Diabetes Education Program
DIABETES
TRAVEL WELL
AT HOME OR ON THE ROAD,
your diabetes is a
constant companion. And while managing the condition
may go smoothly at home, traveling can quickly derail
your treatment plan.
So the next time you’re making travel arrangements,
give some thought to your diabetes, too. With some care-
ful planning, it doesn’t have to slow you down.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Go for a checkup.
Try to see your
physician at least four to six weeks before you travel. If
your physician finds that your diabetes isn’t well con-
trolled, that gives you time to work on it. And, if you’re
traveling abroad, you may need to get immunizations.
Also, ask your physician:
●
●
For advice on managing your medications if you’re
traveling across time zones.
●
●
To provide you with copies of your prescriptions.
●
●
For a letter that outlines your diabetes medications
and treatment plan, including a list of supplies you need,
such as syringes.
Pack right.
Travel with twice as much medication and
supplies as you think you’ll need. If flying, pack half of
that in your carry-on bag.
Also plan to take:
●
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Extra batteries for your glucose meter.
●
●
Extra snacks, in case meals are delayed.
●
●
A first aid kit with necessities like pain relievers and
antinausea medication.
“Be sure to pack all of your medications in your carry-
on bags,” said Debrah Fisher, RN, MSN, Manager of the
DCH Diabetes Center.
“All medications should be in original bottles and not in
a medication organizer,” she advised. “You may be asked
to identify your medications by name. And remember to
take your glucose tablets with you. Treat your testing sup-
plies as medicine, and keep them with you, too.”
Share it.
Make sure at least one of your traveling part-
ners knows you have diabetes. If you’re flying alone, be
sure to tell a flight attendant about your condition. Also,
wear medical identification, preferably written in the
language of the country in which you’re traveling, that
says you have diabetes.
“The DCH Diabetes Center is ready to give anyone with
diabetes the information they need to manage this
disease,” said DCH Diabetes Center Manager Debrah
Fisher, RN, MSN.
The DCH Diabetes Center provides people with
diabetes education and training in self-management
skills from nurses and dietitians. These skills include
controlling blood sugar, preventing or delaying diabetes
complications, and improving self-care.
“All you need is to have your physician refer you to
the DCH Diabetes Center for education to learn the
Our Diabetes Center can help
tools and the skills to manage your diabetes,” Fisher
said. “Education is the key to maintaining good health.
The more you understand about your diabetes, the bet-
ter you will be able to manage your diabetes to have the
best health you can.”
The DCH Diabetes Center is the only American Dia-
betes Association-certified diabetes education center in
West Alabama.
To begin taking control of your diabetes, ask your
physician to refer you to the DCH Diabetes Center. For
more information, call
205-750-5260
or go to
www.dchsystem.com/diabetes
.
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H E A L T H Y C O M M U N I T Y