5 Key Factors to Effective Specialized Wound Healing and Treatment
Chronic wounds affect more people in the world than we can imagine. In fact, the incidence of chronic wounds is projected to grow by 2% every year over the next decade due to the aging population and the increasing rate of health conditions like obesity and diabetes that are predisposing factors for chronic wounds.
With this in mind, the need for specialized wound healing and treatment has never been more important and these five key factors play a pivotal role in achieving the goals of proper wound care:
Wound Assessment
The first step and most important step in effective specialized wound healing and treatment is proper wound assessment. Since chronic wounds have different causes, it’s very important for a healthcare provider to determine the exact cause of the wound to know the right treatment plan for the patient. Most chronic wounds are caused by health conditions like diabetes, traumatic injuries, surgical incisions, and pressure ulcers.
Wound Debridement
Debridement is the process of removing necrotic or dead tissue to promote wound healing. Since necrotic tissue can affect the body’s ability to develop new skin, debridement is necessary to prepare the wound bed for efficient healing. No matter what the cause of the wound is, regular wound debridement should be done by the right healthcare provider to promote a speedy recovery.
Wound Care Technology
Aside from the basic interventions to help promote wound healing, we are now seeing more wound care technology being introduced in the market. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, for instance, is the process of delivering 100% oxygen to the patient to dissolve more oxygen into the bloodstream.
HBOT is believed to help promote wound healing by helping the body absorb 10-20 times more oxygen, which in turn delivers oxygen-rich blood to the wound site to speed up the wound healing process. HBOT also helps decrease localized swelling, enhances wound healing and increases a patient’s protection against infection.
Nutrition Management
It’s no secret that good nutrition plays an important role in wound healing, which is why nutrition management should be incorporated into any patient’s treatment plan. The first priority would be to create a healthy, balanced meal plan that provides the body’s vitamin, mineral, and protein requirement to promote efficient wound healing. Hydration is also very important since nutrients and fluids can be lost due to wound discharges.
Proper Emotional Support
Wound healing is an emotional journey for the patient since their wound can affect the activities of daily living and may result in huge life changes in the long run. So, aside from planning the right interventions for the patient, the healthcare team should also include proper emotional support as part of the treatment plan.
The Takeaway
The goal of specialized wound healing and treatment is to help the patient return to their activities of daily living and enjoy the best quality of life even after a chronic wound. Wound healing takes commitment, adherence and a lot of patience, but with the right people, it can be achieved in no time.
We specialize in diagnosis and treatment for any and all wound care issues for patients in San Diego County, Orange County, and Riverside County. For more information or to set an appointment, please contact us.
