Centralia Hospital Has Specialized Capabilities for Wound Healing Services
SSM Health in Southern Illinois Wound Centers Bring Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Close to Home
Specialized services help patients heal chronic wounds and late effects of radiation with outcomes that exceed national benchmarks
Patients in Southern Illinois have access to advanced wound care services thanks to the specialized capabilities of the Wound Healing Centers at SSM health in Southern Illinois, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
St. Mary’s Hospital is the only hospital in the immediate area with the chambers required for the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is commonly used to treat chronic wounds related to diabetes, radiation injuries, bone infections, and other complex conditions. The therapy promotes angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, helping oxygen and nutrients reach tissues that might otherwise struggle to heal.
“The nearest hyperbaric program outside of ours is at least an hour away,” said Pamela Ford, Area Program Director of the SSM Health in Southern Illinois Wound Healing Centers. “When circulation has been compromised, the body sometimes struggles to get enough oxygen and nutrients to tissue. With this modality, we can help regenerate blood vessels by providing external oxygen, allowing the body to promote healing naturally.”
In addition to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the Wound Healing Centers at both St. Mary’s Hospital and SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon provide comprehensive care for chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure injuries. The multidisciplinary team works closely with specialists in vascular medicine, endocrinology, surgery, radiation oncology, and other fields to identify and address barriers to healing.
“Many wounds don’t get treated because people think they’ll heal on their own. If the wound doesn’t heal in 30 days, it needs help. Sometimes, people simply live with their wounds because they don’t realize there are treatments available that can help them,” said Ford. “We are here to help. The sooner we can begin treatment, the better the opportunity for healing and a positive outcome.”
The Wound Healing Centers at the SSM Health in Southern Illinois ministries have produced positive results and have consistently achieved healing rates well above the national benchmarks. According to Ford, 98 percent of patients who seek care at the SSM Health in Southern Illinois Wound Healing Centers heal successfully.
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About SSM Health
Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system working to advance health equity and empower all people to achieve their full potential.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health provides convenient access to high-quality community-based services as well as world-class academic medicine, clinical trials and research studies. The organization’s footprint includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. As one of the largest employers in every community it serves, the organization’s 40,000 team members and 15,000 providers are dedicated to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.