For most people, a cut or scrape is a minor injury, soon healed and soon forgotten. But for some, wounds are slow to heal, threatening health, putting limbs in peril, limiting activities, and bringing pain and suffering. With the frequency of diabetes, vascular disease, and pressure ulcers on the rise, the risk of a wound that will not heal increases too.

A Center of Excellence

Caring for stubborn wounds is a time-consuming process that relies on a skilled, well trained, and focused staff. As experts in wound-healing techniques, the Center's nurses and doctors receive advanced, ongoing training in wound care. They are familiar with the latest wound-care technologies and medications. They have the experience needed to evaluate wounds and determine the best method of treatment. They have proven, established systems for treating different types of wounds. Because treating hard-to-heal wounds is the Center's only purpose, the staff can devote the time, thought and skill needed for each patient's care. Best of all, when patients receive this focused, intense care, their wounds have the greatest chance of healing.

A Team Approach

The Center for Wound Healing at Southside Hospital brings together teams of skilled professionals to treat hard-to-heal wounds, give comfort, and relieve pain. Our teams combine advanced medical techniques with patient education to create an environment to help heal wounds that have resisted treatment for weeks, months, and even years. The doctors and nurses are conveniently located in one center on the Southside Hospital campus, eliminating the need to travel from place to place for care. Each team is tailored to each patients' needs.

The team includes:

• Vascular surgeons
• Plastic and reconstructive surgeons
• General surgeons
• Infectious disease specialists
• Podiatrists
• Nurses and Nurse Practitioners specially trained and nationally certified in Wound Care
• Diagnostic technicians

A Continuum of Care

In addition to medical and nursing care, support services also are available on the Southside campus. These services include:

• Physical therapy
• Nutritional assessment
• Pain management
• Psychosocial support
• Orthotic (shoe inserts and boots) fabrication

The center staff follows patients no matter where they receive care--in the hospital at the center or at home with North Shore-LIJ Home Care.

The center has healed thousands of patients with wounds that could not heal when they were treated traditionally, bringing them hope as well as healing.