Help for hard to heal wounds

Patients on Cape Cod who have persistent wounds that will not heal now have another option, with the opening of the second Cape Cod Healthcare Wound Care Center at 905 Attucks Lane in Hyannis. The Hyannis center joins its partners — Cape Cod Healthcare Wound Care in Bourne and the VNA of Cape Cod — in highly specialized evaluation and referral for treatment for all types of wounds.

This new site offers physician and nursing support to patients who need individualized, comprehensive clinical attention for wound care. Each provider has specialized training and experience in multiple modalities of treatment.

At the Wound Care Center, specially-trained wound care physicians and nurses evaluate and treat a variety of wounds including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, ischemic and arterial ulcers, as well as neuropathic wounds, and radiation injuries.

“It has always been Cape Cod Healthcare’s mission to improve access and by opening a location in Hyannis where the population is denser, we will be able to do that,” said KayBeth Weibel, RN, nurse manager of the two wound care centers.

Patrick Flynn, MD, medical director of the Wound Care Center agreed and said the move is a “huge victory,” for patients in the Mid and Lower Cape areas.

“The fact that we can now geographically move down Cape and offer services in other areas will make a huge difference,” he said. “This is really a huge win for patients, who can now be referred to doctors that specialize in wound care and they can get the serves they need and want.”

Eleanor Claus, a former patient at the Wound Care Center, is a West Barnstable resident who came to the Cape Cod Healthcare Wound Care in Bourne for weekly treatments last year to help heal a leg wound. Claus, a past healthcare executive and current real estate agent and member of the Cape Cod Healthcare Board of Directors, said the staff and services at the Wound Care Center were “exceptional.”

“What I like about the Wound Care Center is that they are very pleasant, but clear about what you need to do to heal properly,” she said. “When you get older your circulation is not as good and you don’t heal as fast but the staff constantly encourages me and I’ve learned a lot about what I need to do to become better. They always remember my name and I always see the same physician and it becomes a personal and comfortable setting. That has definitely helped in my progression.”

For Weibel, a positive treatment experience is something the doctors and nurses strive for with each patient. It can often be a daunting task to come in for weekly treatments, and many patients are understandably nervous or fearful of what the process will be like, she said. Staff at both wound care locations are upbeat and friendly in order to make sure each patient has a comfortable experience.

“Having a chronic wound can lead to depression and it affects people’s lives in many different ways,” Weibel added. “What is great about our office is that the staff here is not only highly trained and good at what they do, but also really care about the patients and look forward to seeing them every week. While we are passionate about what we do, we also know that they are going through a hardship, so it is really important for us to stay focused on them and make sure they leave upbeat.”