Wound Care
Merit Health Central’s Wound Care Center brings the community more than 25 years of experience of providing specialized, outpatient care for chronic, non-healing wounds.
The Jackson-based outpatient and outcome-based program opened in 1995, and has treated thousands of patients with a proven track record of an 85-90% healing rate.
A panel of local, skilled physicians with support from nurses and staff at the center will create a treatment plan specialized just for you and your progress will be evaluated by the staff, together with your personal physician.
Care for Non-Healing Wounds
The center offers a wide range of treatments so you know you are getting advanced care for your wound, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), negative pressure therapies, bioengineered tissues and biosynthetics.
Who’s at Risk?
Certain factors can cause a wound to develop into a complicated, non-healing wound. A person with any of the following conditions, especially older adults and children, should seek medical treatment for a wound.
- Early onset infection due to delayed treatment
- Edema or swelling in the feet or legs
- Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes
- Deep wounds that involve tendons or bone
- Immobility
- Obesity
- Poor nutrition
- Tobacco addiction
- Vascular disease
When You Should Seek Treatment for a Wound
- You have a wound that has shown no improvement
- You have a wound with increasing pain, swelling, odor or a change in color
Types of Wounds Treated
The Wound Care Center at Merit Health Central is equipped to deal with many different types of wounds, including:
- Bone infections
- Chronic, recurring wounds
- Compromised skin grafts or flaps
- Diabetic foot and leg wounds
- Gangrene
- Slow healing wounds (wounds that have not shown improvement in four weeks)
- Surgical wounds
- Venous and arterial wounds
- Ulcers, including ischemic, pressure and venous stasis
- Wounds associated with radiation therapy
- Other conditions such as bites, infections and more
Starting the Healing Process
Before beginning your treatment, the team will thoroughly evaluate your wound and review your health and medical history. Tests such as segmental pressure measurements, pulse volume recording (PVR), venous and/or arterial doppler ultrasound may be conducted to help determine your blood flow and tissue oxygenation and to determine if you have an infection and peripheral vascular disease. The Wound Care Center staff will work with you and your physician to help develop a treatment plan based on your special needs. You will receive education about the cause of your wound, how to prevent wounds from happening, how to care for your wound and how to recognize early signs of complications. You will continue to see your primary care physician for medical issues not involving your wound.
Additional Services
- Medical management by a panel of physicians
- Hyperbaric oxygen chamber
- Diabetes education
- Surgical consultations
- Orthopedic consultations (as needed) specializing in podiatry
- Rehabilitation consultations
- Medical management of diabetes and endocrine disorders
Self-referrals are accepted, and treatment is covered by most insurance plans. For more information, please call (601) 376-2561.
Staff
The Wound Care Center has a number of providers and clinical support staff who have been specially trained to take care of chronic wounds.