Wound Care

We know a chronic wound can alter your quality of life. Blending clinical expertise and education, the wound care nurse at Westlake Hospital is available to assist in the prevention and treatment of non-healing wounds.

Chronic wounds caused by diabetes, poor circulation and other conditions affect the lives of millions of Americans each year. When your physician refers you to wound care services at Westlake Hospital, you will receive a careful evaluation and an individually designed wound treatment program for your wound.

The wound treatment plan is clearly communicated with your physician, an important partner in the wound care team. The wound care nurse will inform you of options available to help treat your wound and will teach you how to care for your wounds at home.

If you have a non-healing wound, your first step is to make an appointment with your primary care physician. Your doctor may refer you to wound care services such as those offered at Westlake Hospital.
Westlake Hospital has a nurse wound care specialist on staff to provide wound care services to patients as well as provide follow-up outpatient care to patients when they go home.

What is a wound?

All skin wounds are defined as disruptions of the skin that cause a repair process to start in the body. There are two types of wounds – acute and chronic. Acute wounds usually heal within an expected time frame. Chronic wounds can linger for weeks, months and even years. Patients often have several medical conditions that delay the healing process.  Multiple factors can slow or stop normal wound repair:

• Diabetes
• Kidney dialysis
• Age
• Swelling
• Cancer
• Medications
• Infection
• Poor circulation
• Poor nutrition

Inpatient wound care

When a patient is admitted to Westlake Hospital and has an acute or chronic wound, the wound/ostomy nurse is available upon referral and will assess and document the wound. The nurse works in conjunction with the patient’s physician to aid in treatment if necessary. The wound care nurse also identifies patients at risk for skin breakdown and puts in place the first steps in the prevention of pressure ulcers.

Outpatient wound care

Follow-up outpatient wound care is available once the patient goes home. Patients are asked to obtain a physician order for the wound care nurse to treat them. The wound care registered nurse maintains constant communication with your primary care physician, discussing any health issues related to your wound care. Your physician will be apprised of all evaluation findings, wound care treatment recommendations and progress.

Wound care treatments available at Westlake include:

• Whirlpool or Hydrotherapy 
• Maggot Therapy – Medical use of live maggots for cleaning non-healing wounds 
• Compression Therapy 
• Wound Vacuum Assisted Closure – Draws wound closed using controlled, localized negative pressure 
• Appropriate Wound Dressings 
• Pain Management

Questions?
To learn more about Chicago Wound Care Services at Westlake Hospital, please call 866-938-7256 or contact the Wound Care Nurse directly at 708-938-7152.