Wound Healing Institute of Carolina

Put an end to the misery of a non-healing sore or wound

Wound Healing Institute

Don’t wait until an infection or gangrene threatens you with the loss of a limb…

Call the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina at 803-643-2090.

Every year, chronic wounds caused by diabetes, insect bites, pressure ulcers, trauma or other conditions keep 3 to 5 million people from doing the things they like to do. The Wound Healing Institute of Carolina at Aiken Regional Medical Centers can help. The Institute Staff treats sores and wounds, including those that have resisted healing after months and even years.

If you have a sore or wound that hasn’t started to heal in a month, or healed entirely in two months, you should ask your doctor about the Wound Healing Institute. We can help. The team of doctors and nurses is dedicated to treating wounds.

The Wound Healing Institute of Carolina at Aiken Regional Medical Centers includes the following components:

Outpatient program offers technically advanced, surgically-oriented, interdisciplinary outpatient care that has proven to be highly effective in healing wounds that resist conventional therapies. The institute also treats acute wounds and pediatric patients.

Inpatient program is designed to:

prevent wounds from occurring in patients admitted to the hospital;
reduce the length-of-stay for patients admitted with wounds.

How Does It Work?

The Wound Healing Institute is designed to complement your physician's services and is committed to the treatment of non-healing wounds. The Center's team of professionals includes:

Physicians with advanced training in wounds management
Nurses who are trained in the care of chronic wounds
Technicians who perform non-invasive studies and various therapies
An experienced staff to assist with appointments, medical records and health insurance processing

The Center now has two Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a procedure in which a patient breaths 100 percent oxygen while relaxing in a pressurized chamber. This delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the blood stream and the wound bed, which rapidly accelerates the healing process.

The staff puts together a treatment program based on each patient’s special needs. The program includes visits to the Institute plus detailed instructions for home care. Any time patients or family members have questions, our staff is available.

The Wound Care Center works with your personal doctor, just like any other medical specialist. We’ll discuss your treatment program with your doctor and keep him or her updated on your progress, unless instructed otherwise. Remember, you’ll need to keep seeing your doctor for routine medical care.

New Services

Acute Care: In keeping with the philosophy of Aiken Regional Medical Centers, the staff is committed to treatment of chronic wounds and also their prevention. To help meet that committment the staff has implemented an acute wounds program and will take appointments to see any wound regardless of how long you have had it. If you have an emergency, go to the Emergency Department and they will refer you to The Wound Care Center after the emergency is stabilized.

Pediatric Care: Children in the Aiken community have a special place at the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The hospital currently has two highly trained and skilled pediatric nurses to provide pediatric patients with excellent care.

Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy and Injury-Free

Examine feet daily in good light. Look for areas of dryness or cracking, especially around the toenails, between the toes and on the soles.
Wash feet in warm, soapy water each day. Dry feet thoroughly.
If feet become excessively dry, moisturize the soles with unscented lotion.
Never walk barefoot either indoors or outdoors.
Avoid exposing feet to extreme heat, such as hot sand or pavement. Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Check bath water temperature with your elbow before entering. Do not use hot water or a heating pad to warm cold feet; instead, wear loose socks if feet are cold.
Trim toenails straight across and gently round corners with a fine emery board or pumice stone.
Visit a physician or podiatrist to treat corns or calluses. Do not use commercial corn or callous removers, footpads or arch supports.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Avoid shoes with open toes or heels, sandals and shoes that squeeze toes together.
Buy new shoes late in the day when feet are slightly enlarged to assure they will fit comfortably at any time. New shoes should never be worn more than two hours at one time.
Wear seamless socks or stockings with shoes. Socks should be clean and changed daily.
Avoid using garters or elastics to hold up stockings, or any garments that are tight around the legs.
Walking is the best exercise for the feet, provided shoes fit properly. After exercising, be sure to check feet for signs of irritation or blisters.
Prop up feet when seated to increase circulation. Wiggle toes and move ankles up and down for five minutes, two or three times a day. Don’t cross legs for long periods of time.

If you would like to have your shoes checked for proper fitting, call the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina for an appointment with the Certified Pedorthist, Joe Cantwell, BOC, ABC.

Request a Brochure

To receive additional information about the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina, please complete our request form.

Physicians on our Medical Staff

Dr. James L. Hagan, Medical Director General Surgery

Dr. Jack L. Ratliff
General / Thoracic / Vascular Surgery

Dr. Dean A. Page
Plastic Surgery

Physicians are independent contractors who are not agents or employees of Aiken Regional Medical Centers.

Care Management Program

The Wound Healing Institute's care management program is designed to augment the physician’s ability to address a specific problem without interfering with his or her responsibilities for the overall care of the patient. Under this system, a specialized team evaluates and treats the wound, establishes measures to prevent its recurrence and informs the primary care physician of the patient’s progress. Some benefits of the care management approach include a high level of limb salvage in severe wounds, earlier recovery, less hospitalization and prevention of prolonged and/or permanent disability.

The Wound Healing Institute's program provides a thorough diagnostic appraisal of the wound and the patient, followed by a carefully designed case management program. The diagnostic and treatment plan is fully documented and communicated to the primary physician who remains an active member of the wound management team. The Institute's program incorporates a comprehensive outpatient center designed to complement physicians’ services. Physicians refer patients to the center for comprehensive wound management, but continue to treat the underlying condition and provide for the patient’s overall care.

Typical Wounds Treated

Arterial
Common Differential Diagnoses:

Mixed venous/arterial disease
Arterial ulcers
Trauma

Less Common:

Infection (cellulites, osteomyelitis)

Venous
Common Differential Diagnoses:

Venous leg ulcers
Pressure over bony prominences
Insect bites

Pressure
Common Differential Diagnoses:

Infection
Systemic disease

Less Common:

Malignancy
Foreign bodies

Best Practice

The National Average Days to Healing is 35 days. At the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina, the average is 25.
The National Average for Healing is 88 percent, the Wound Healing Institute's days to healing is 93 percent.
The Institute's patient satisfaction is 93 percent and physician satisfaction is 97 percent.

Three more reasons to choose the Wound Healing Institute of Carolina for your patients. If you have any questions, please call the Institute at 803-643-2090. The Program Director, Bob Queen, will be happy to speak with you.

Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Aiken Regional Medical Centers, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.

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