The McLaren Bay Region Wound Care Center, a member of the Healogics network, is helping raise awareness of the risks of chronic wounds during the ninth annual Wound Care Awareness Week, June 6th - 10th.
As the nation’s leading provider of advanced wound care, Healogics®, established Wound Care Awareness Week in 2014 to bring attention to the growing need for wound care as well as the nearly seven million Americans currently living with chronic wounds. Program directors across the nation are dedicating the entire week to educating physicians, patients, and the public about the prevalence of chronic wounds and advanced wound care solutions that are currently available.
The McLaren Bay Region Wound Care Center offers several advanced therapies to patients suffering from chronic wounds including negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered tissues, biosynthetic dressings, growth factor therapies, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
“Some wounds will heal with good hygiene and personal attention, while other more challenging wounds require medical care that begins with becoming established with a certified wound care center that is committed to your betterment,” said Dr Samuel Hui, medical director of the McLaren Bay Region Wound Care Center. “Our multidisciplinary team has the expertise and access to advanced treatment options needed to identify the underlying cause and develop the highest-level medical treatment plans.”
The incidence of chronic wounds is rising due to our aging population and increasing rates of disease. Various conditions like diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increase the likelihood of a person having or developing a chronic wound. A breakdown of wound types, by prevalence, for those living with chronic wounds include:
- Pressure Ulcers (43%)
- Diabetic Foot Ulcers (31%)
- Venous Stasis Ulcers (12%)
- Surgical Wounds or Trauma (8%)
- Arterial Ulcers (6%)
If left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life and possibly amputation of the affected limb.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only made matters worse, as many suffering from chronic wounds have not sought needed care during the past two years. The result has been a steep rise in amputations, according to a study from the American Diabetes Association.
With this in mind, now is the time for those suffering from chronic wounds to seek the advanced wound care available at McLaren Bay Region Wound Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call 989-393-2870 or visit mclaren.org/main/wound-care.
To learn more about Wound Care Awareness Week and hear from patients about how wound healing changed their lives, visit woundcareawareness.com.