UConn Health's Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Aids Patients

UConn Health is home to a specialized outpatient wound care and hyperbaric medicine treatment center. It is one of only a few dedicated wound centers in Connecticut offering critical access to multidisciplinary wound care services and specialists all in one place.

Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is led by a multidisciplinary team of UConn Health experts including Dr. Mina L. Boutrous, an experienced vascular surgeon at UConn Health; Nancy Dupont, RN, director of epidemiology, infection control, dialysis, wound care and hyperbaric medicine; and Nicole Belmonte, RN, a wound care nurse specialist. The wound center's expansive expertise also includes patient access to UConn Health's vascular surgery, limb salvage, infection prevention, plastic surgery, and podiatry services.

"We are very excited to open UConn Health's new wound center. It truly is cutting-edge with the most advanced technology and comprehensive wound care expertise and resources," says Boutrous. "Our biggest hope is to provide curative wound services to all patients in need, especially those in underserved populations whose chronic wound issues may often be overlooked, undertreated, or they don't have the means to travel far from their homes for care."

Boutrous stresses, "UConn Health's new wound center will have a huge impact on reducing Connecticut's current health disparities in wound care to ensure all patients are getting the health care services they need to live their full and highest-quality lives."

Each wound patient referred to UConn Health is closely assessed and receives a customized treatment plan for both the underlying cause of their condition and for accelerating the healing of their individualized wound.

Proper wound care is critical for hard-to-heal or non-healing wounds. If not treated they can grow into more significant health and quality of life consequences, such as leading to limb amputations or life-threatening infections. Underlying conditions like diabetes, circulation problems or even radiation treatment can cause chronic wound problems.

To enhance and accelerate wound care for the state's citizens, UConn Health's multidisciplinary and comprehensive wound care team of experts are caring for:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Venous ulcers
• Pressure injuries/ulcers
• Non-healing, post-surgical wounds
• Traumatic wounds
• Arterial/ischemic ulcers
• Radiation wounds or injuries (internal or external)
• Compromised skin flaps and grafts
• Crush injuries
• Any wound that is not healing or is of concern
• Wound-related challenges in geriatric patients

Traditional and advanced wound care techniques being offered are:

• Diagnostic testing (can include vascular testing, blood tests, x-rays)
• Nutritional evaluation
• Infection control
• Specialized dressings
• Pressure-relieving devices
• Debridement (removal of dead or infected tissue)
• Patient education
• Cellular, acellular, matrix-like products (CAMPs), also called skin substitutes
• Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy

Boutrous adds, "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proven benefits and results, so we are thrilled to offer chronic wound patients access to two state-of-the art HBO chambers."

The advanced HBO technology is particularly beneficial for wound patients with open wounds; non-healing ulcers due to diabetes; and chronic conditions such as osteomyelitis, radionecrosis and osteoradionecrosis.

HBO therapy is offered in a private, state-of-the art chamber. It utilizes 100 percent oxygen under elevated pressure to enhance a patient's natural ability to heal and fight infection by increasing oxygen levels in damaged tissues, stimulating growth of new blood vessels and enhancing immune cell function. Treatment regimen is typically five days a week for two-hours to speed a wound's healing.

Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is offered at UConn Health's 150 Academic Way in Farmington, Connecticut. To reach the center, refer a patient or schedule an appointment, call: 860-679-2420