Bedford Medical Center to open wound care facility

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by Emily Canning-Dean

Reporter

Bedford -- With an aging local population caring for chronic wounds is a growing issue, hospital officials say.

But the community will soon have a center dedicated to treating these wounds.

UHHS Bedford Medical Center, 44 Blaine Ave., Bedford, has announced plans to open a wound care and hyperbaric medicine center.

Sean McKibben, president of Bedford Medical Center, said the hospital hopes to open the center the first week of May.

He said the 3,000-square-foot facility will be on the second floor of the hospital and will bring in five new employees. McKibben said the space on the second floor was previously vacant.

Kwon Lee, who has been named medical director of the wound care center, said the need for specialized wound treatment is increasing.

"As the population ages and we are all living longer, many people are literally outliving their skin," Lee said.

McKibben agreed, adding that, as aging occurs, wounds such as surgery incisions don't heal as easily.

According to a press release from Bedford Medical Center, the wound care center is designed as an outpatient facility that will work in partnership with primary care physicians who will refer their patients to the center's services, if needed.

One of the treatments offered at the center will be hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This involves the patient resting inside a pressurized chamber with 100 percent oxygen.

According to the press release, breathing the pure oxygen helps to speed the healing of some wounds.

E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3166