Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center Responds to High Risk COVID-19 Patients

Press Release: For Immediate Release

Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center of Corpus Christi announces new Express Service

The Regional Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center, located at 1533 5th Street, in Corpus Christi, Texas has announced this month a new innovative Express Service to expedite wound care service to high risk patients in compliance with COVID-19 standards.

The Express Service is for select wounds and can be scheduled within one day for most insurance plans.  The program has a call ahead check-in, no waiting, a designated drop off area under a canopy at the door that is separate from the main entrance.  This eliminates waiting in an exam room to limit exposure for patients.

“The new Express Service is designed to provide the utmost in safety and care for our at-risk wound care patients,” according to Bridget Sanders, MD, FASCRS, ABWS-CWS, Medical Director, Surgeon and Wound Care Specialist at the wound clinic.  “The program expedites the time and manner we can best see the patients to provide comprehensive wound care services without prolonged waiting time, delays with limited exposure to other patients and personnel in the clinic,” she stated.

The Regional Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center provides advanced wound care treatments and therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, for patients with non-healing wounds in the Corpus Christi area.

Area physicians and specialty clinics can refer wound care patients to the clinic Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm by eFax at: 877-670-4779.  Patients can self-refer by calling the clinic at 361-371-5544. 

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WoundCentrics Expands it's Footprint

Congratulations Wound Care University (WCU) graduates! The month of May welcomes four new Nurse Practitioners to WoundCentrics’ collection of highly trained professionals. We are proud to introduce to you Katie Decena, Roxs Anne Greaud, Tekisha Murphy, and Christine Rodriguez. 

Developed by our team of specialty wound care providers and associates, WCU is a comprehensive wound care education program designed to prepare its graduates for complex wound care across the continuum of care. Katie, Roxs Anne, Tekisha, and Christine joined us at our New Braunfels corporate office for a broad-based curriculum which includes wound pathophysiology, treatment modalities, advanced technologies, product literacy, and clinical documentation. Through WCU, our graduates accelerate their wound care career with teachings on clinical skills, such as sharp debridement, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, and application of Engineered Skin Graft techniques, empowering our providers to deliver exceptional wound care services that improve outcomes to their patients. 

Both Katie Decena, FNP-C and Christine Rodriguez, ANCC, FNP-BC will join our wound care teams in San Antonio, Texas at Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center and Christus Santa Rosa Westover Hills. Katie will pair her new advanced wound care knowledge with 10-years of acute care experience and Christine will incorporate her 25-years of comprehensive knowledge of health care delivery with the existing multidisciplinary team of clinical professionals. Together Katie and Christine combine their years of experience to share in the Christus goal to heal wounds, promote early recovery, prevent hospitalization, avoid prolonged or permanent disability and amputations to restore the quality of life through individualized treatment plans (https://www.christushealth.org/santa-rosa/medical-center/services-treatments/wound-care). 

Roxs Anne Greaud, APRN, ACNP-BC will join the newest hospital to partner with WoundCentrics, Ochsner Extended Care Hospital in Jefferson, Louisiana. Roxs Anne will unite her 11-years of nurse practitioner experience in acute and chronic disease management to Ocsher’s staff of 85 employees dedicated to delivering comprehensive, integrated treatment, helping patients recover from conditions ranging from cardiovascular and neurological disorders to infectious diseases and trauma. Ochsner’s long-term acute care unit is designed to care for the most critically ill patients for an extended period of time (https://www.ochsner.org/services/ochsner-extended-care-hospital). 

Tekisha Murphy, APRN, FNP-C will partner with James Patrick Bridges, MD at Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals of Texas Medical Center and Clear Lake in Houston, Texas along with numerous post-acute locations across the city. Tekisha shares with WoundCentrics her 17-years of clinical experience as a nurse and nurse practitioner and a passion to work with patients and families to provide individualized evidenced-based care and help her patients achieve their optimal level of health. Tekisha’s passion fits perfectly with Cornerstone’s mission to provide quality of care, responsive service, and commitment to excellence (https://www.chghospitals.com/). 

Welcome to our team and congratulations on your graduation from WCU!

Pictured from left to right: Marcus Gitterlee, MD, Katie Decena, FNP-C, Christine Rodriguez, ANCC, FNP-BC, RoxsAnne Greaud APRN, ACNP-BC, Tekisha Murphy, APRN, FNP-C, and David Jones FNP-C

WoundCentrics Offers its Advanced Wound Care Programs Via Telemedicine to All Facilities

WoundCentrics Offers its Advanced Wound Care Programs Via Telemedicine to All Facilities

Due to the federal government’s declaration of a national emergency, Telemedicine is now possible for all Medicare, Medicare Advantage and most Medicaid and commercial insurance payors throughout the United States regardless of where a patient in need may be located.

Our Wound Care Specialist have the technology and wound care expertise to provide telemedicine consults and follow up care to wound care patients that require complex wound care management from a medical professional.

The WoundCentrics Telemedicine Program offers:

• Secure, Free HIPAA compliant software solution that enables…

• Live or “store and forward” video capability

• Secure messaging for support between formal visits

• Downloadable on most hand-held devices

• Simple photo capture, even from a personal device while maintaining HIPAA compliance

• Safe and reliable technology with a dedicated wound care specialist to manage wound care plans

• Electronic documentation sent to facility at time of service

• Actionable wound care visits that improve patient outcomes

• No direct cost to your facility

Contact WoundCentrics at 281-989-5398 to start Telemedicine wound care visits in your facility

WoundCentrics launches its LTACH Inpatient Wound Care Services at Acuity Specialty Hospital

Press Release:  For Immediate Release

WoundCentrics launches its LTACH Inpatient Wound Care Services at Acuity Specialty Hospital

WoundCentrics of New Braunfels, Texas has announced that it has started providing its specialty inpatient wound care services to the Acuity Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey in February 2020.  WoundCentrics inpatient wound care program is designed around the needs of the LTACH staff and patients and is focused on providing wound care in collaboration with the facility’s existing clinical team.

Acuity Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey (ASHSNJ) is a 69-bed Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) that is 100 percent employee-owned. The hospital is specifically designed and staffed to provide intensive care to patients who are either ventilator dependent or have other medically complex conditions such as extensive non-healing wounds, infections, multi-system failures or complications from surgery. The hospital utilizes a physician led interdisciplinary team of highly skilled clinicians who develop a customized plan of care designed to support and effectively treat some of the most complex clinical conditions found in healthcare.

Patients are referred for care at ASHSNJ from all over the United States. In the Delaware Valley, 35 community and tertiary care hospitals choose ASHSNJ for extended hospitalization and continuity of care. Since 2005, ASHSNJ has been setting the standard of care in the industry, patient clinical outcomes are among the best in the nation for ventilator weaning and complex wound healing.

“Despite the challenging times we are facing in the midst of the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis, patient’s needs continue and wound care is a vital part of their care. We are proud to work with the medical and administrative team at Acuity Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey,” claimed Stuart Oertli, Chief Operating Officer for WoundCentrics.  “The New Jersey Acuity Hospital is our fourth Acuity facility to contract with to provide our inpatient wound care program and team up with the local providers to ensure quality, advanced wound care to the patients admitted to the LTACH Hospitals,” Oertli stated.

WoundCentrics was founded in 2012 to provide integrated solutions for advanced wound care to hospital and post-acute facilities, including the LTACH specialty hospital.  WoundCentrics has provided wound care focused services to over 75 facilities in 15 states.

WoundCentrics Chief Medical Officer has research published in Medical Journal

Press Release:  For Immediate Release – January 2020

WoundCentrics Chief Medical Officer has Research published in Medical Journal

In January, 2020, Marcus Gitterle, MD, Chief Medical Officer of WoundCentrics, LLC of New Braunfels, Texas, saw publication of a case series in the Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents entitled:

"TREATMENT WITH NOVEL HYBENX® ROOT CANAL CLEANSER SUGGESTS BIOFILMS BLOCKED HEALING OF HUMAN WOUNDS: CASE SERIES"

The paper* discusses the use of a new anti-biofilm strategy which has been shown to be universally effective at killing all types of bacteria and fungi with a 10 second, one-shot treatment.

While this treatment methodology has seen extensive use in dentistry, its use in wound care is currently novel. This case series illustrates the applicability of such anti-biofilm strategies to wound care in general, and especially the care of chronic, refractory, non-healing ulcers.

WoundCentrics, LLC encourages its clinicians to engage in clinical research, and to publish in peer-reviewed journals, to help advance the state-of-the-art in wound care.

*TREATMENT WITH NOVEL HYBENX® ROOT CANAL CLEANSER SUGGESTS BIOFILMS BLOCKED HEALING OF HUMAN WOUNDS: CASE SERIES, Gitterle, M, JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS & HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS ,   Vol. 34, No. 1 (S1), xx-xx (2020)

The Clinical Benefits of Sharp Debridement in Wound Care

Update on Wound Care in the LTACH

Wound debridement is considered by most wound experts to be an important aspect of wound management. Debridement facilitates several processes that are essential for wound healing, including the removal of dead and necrotic tissue. This “biological burden” is removed to control bacterial colonization, prevent wound infection and to allow the practitioner to properly visualize and assess the full extent of the wound and involved structures. This guides further treatment, optimizes wound dressings and sets the stage for more advanced treatments, such as engineered skin substitutes. 

Sharp debridement promotes wound healing by removing impeding dead tissue and bacterial biofilm; and it is also clear that debridement “resets” cellular signaling proteins to the acute phase of wound healing, allowing wound healing to proceed in a more optimal fashion. 

When debridement is performed on appropriate patients in a timely fashion, wound healing can proceed much more rapidly, leading to better outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, and lower overall wound care supply costs. When performed by appropriately trained providers, debridement can be effective and efficient, while imposing little overhead on facility operations, or additional burdens to caregivers. 

The value of sharp debridement is well documented as a critical approach to managing problem wounds and wound healing. A retrospective analysis assessed wound outcomes in relation to frequency of wound debridement.  This study, by Wilcox, Carter and Covington, looked at 154,644 patients with 312,744 wounds of all types over a 4 year period in 525 clinics. The study demonstrated clear evidence of improvement in wound outcomes with increasing frequency of debridement (P > 0.001), and concluded “The more frequent the debridement, the better the healing outcome.” 

At WoundCentrics, we believe in evidenced based care and appropriate debridement is a key component of a comprehensive wound care program. Effective, timely debridement can mean the difference between excellent outcomes and high patient satisfaction, and merely average or even sub-optimal outcomes. That is why we train and certify our providers in sharp debridement as an important clinical skill of wound care.

WoundCentrics offers an Inpatient Wound Care Program with trained specialist(s) on-site daily seeing wound patients with the goal to optimize wound progression in the LTACH.

WoundCentrics offers a Complimentary Virtual  LTACH  Wound Care Analysis

WoundCentrics Completes 2019 as NALTH Visionary Partnership Sponsor

For Release: Immediate November 2019

WoundCentrics Completes 2019 as NALTH Visionary Partnership Sponsor

The National Association of Long-Term Hospitals (NALTH) is a not-for-profit organization that supports member Hospitals and the industry. NALTH is actively involved at the state and national level developing and recommending policy priorities. NALTH works with constituency-level insurers, including private payers, Medicare, Medicaid and HMO Groups to develop and draft new policy initiatives affecting long-term care hospitals, patient admission criteria and payment policy.

NALTH provides its members the opportunity to participate on task forces to develop strategies to address the challenges that long-term care hospitals face in the changing healthcare environment and to influence policies impacting payment reform and the ability to care for those who need an LTACH level of care.

As a professional organization, NALTH provides opportunities for research, education, standards of care, input on payment policy and networking within the industry.

NALTH has two (2) Annual Conferences each year, the Spring Clinical Conference at various locations throughout the U.S. and the Fall Leadership and Advocacy Day Conference, held annually in Washington D.C. in conjunction with a day of member lobbying with their Congressional representatives.

NALTH, as an organization, is funded by member dues and partner sponsorships such as those of WoundCentrics. WoundCentrics as been an organizational partner/sponsor since 2014 and this past year, participated in a special opportunity offered by NALTH at a new, higher level of vendor sponsorship, known as the “Visionary Partnership”.

As a long time NALTH partner/sponsor, WoundCentrics was honored to be the first annual “Visionary Partner” for this important LTACH industry organization.

WoundCentrics will continue to be an Advocate Partner in 2020 and beyond, the highest level of sponsorship currently available. As an Advocate Partner in the new year, WoundCentrics will be exhibiting at the NALTH Spring Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, April 22 – 24, 2020.

We hope to see you there!

Dr. Heather Aguirre joins WoundCentrics in the San Antonio Market

Press Release:  For Immediate Release    September 24, 2019 

Dr. Heather Aguirre joins WoundCentrics in the San Antonio Market 

South Texas native Heather G. Aguirre, D.O. has joined WoundCentrics of New Braunfels, Texas, to provide specialized, clinical wound care services in the San Antonio market. 

Dr. Aguirre received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, her graduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center and Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine at University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Forth Worth in July 2013.  She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. 

Dr. Aguirre comes to WoundCentrics from her position as the Medical Director at Rollins Brooks Hospital Wound Care Center in Lampasas, Texas where she was also Vice President for Central Texas Wound Healing and Associates.  

Dr. Aguirre has a long history of volunteering to serve professionally and currently serves as the Legislative Co-Chair and a Board Trustee for the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association.  She was recognized as the New Physician of the Year in 2017 by the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association. 

Dr. Aguirre will be providing wound care services in the San Antonio market for WoundCentrics, with an emphasis on Hyperbaric Medicine, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Long Term Acute Care Hospitals and Rehabilitation Hospitals.  She will be based out of the Christus Santa Rosa Westover Hills campus for both inpatient and outpatient wound care and hyperbaric medicine. 

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Marcus Gitterle, M.D. and Kaye Moseley, RRT, of WoundCentrics Present at the UHMS Gulf Coast Chapter Meeting in Dallas

 News Release:  For Immediate Release                                               September 9, 2019

Marcus Gitterle, M.D. and Kaye Moseley, RRT, of WoundCentrics Present at the UHMS Gulf Coast Chapter Meeting in Dallas

Marcus Gitterle, M.D., FACCWS, Chief Medical Officer for WoundCentrics and Kaye Moseley, RRT, RCP, CHT, CHWS, WoundCentrics' Corporate Director of Compliance, were presenters at the Fall Meeting of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society (UMHS) in Dallas, Texas Saturday Sept 6, 2019.

Dr. Gitterle lectured on “New Technology in Non-Invasive Vascular Testing” and Kaye Moseley presented information on “How to Prepare for a Target, Probe and Educate Audit for HBO2”.

Dr. Gitterle’s presentation highlighted the importance of understanding the emerging trend of non-invasive vascular testing for wound care patients that suffer from chronic, non-healing leg wounds.  Understanding the vascular component to chronic non-healing wounds is a critical precursor to their treatment and vascular testing is the standard of care for lower leg wound patients. Non-invasive vascular testing opens new options for assessing lower extremity blood flow in patient who are not able to tolerate traditional assessment techniques.

Ms. Moseley’s lecture focused on The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continued increase in auditing of claims for hyperbaric medicine services and the importance of documentation in managing an audit in hyperbaric clinics today.  Kaye’s information provided the process and information required for a clinic and clinicians to be adequately prepared to manage a CMS audit on hyperbaric claims and protect themselves from recoupment of payment on otherwise covered services.

The Gulf Coast Chapter of the UHMS mission is to promote educational activities for physicians and allied health professionals in the Gulf Coast Region based on a needs assessment of the members and in collaboration with the UHMS' Panel of Experts. These activities are intended to improve the scientific and practical knowledge of attendees in the areas of hyperbaric oxygen treatment and diving medicine.

Both presentations were accredited for Continuing Medical Education units for both physicians and other allied health professionals.                                                                                                                    

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WoundCentrics facilitates opening of new wound care center with Baptist Health

WoundCentrics facilitates opening of new Wound Care Center with Baptist Health Corbin;

The Hospital posted the following Press Release on their eNews site;

 * See copy below:

 Baptist Health announces opening of Wound Care Center

The Wound Care Center at Baptist Health Corbin will provide specialized treatment for chronic or non-healing sores or wounds that have not significantly improved from conventional treatments.

Chronic wounds affect more than 6.5 million patients in the U.S., and the incidence is rising fueled by an aging population, increasing rates of disease and conditions such as diabetes, obesity and the late effects of radiation therapy.

The regional wound program will serve patients that suffer wounds that are associated with inadequate circulation, poorly functioning veins, infection and immobility; non-healing wounds lead to lower quality of life and ultimately can lead to amputations. When such wounds persist, a specialized approach is required for effective healing. The new Wound Care Center will offer leading-edge treatments including debridement, specialty dressings, negative pressure therapies, bioengineering tissues and biosynthetics.

The Wound Care Center will be under the Medical Directorship of Dr. David Lauber and will have specialty trained nurses and staff providing clinical care to the patients in the region.

“We are pleased to offer specialized wound care to the patients in Corbin and southeastern Kentucky,” said Anthony Powers, hospital president. “As part of our mission, we are committed to advancing wound healing by creating and sharing our wound care expertise; everywhere we can, for every patient who would benefit, by the best means available,”

“The Wound Center uses an interdisciplinary model of care using the newest approaches to care, technologies and treatments for challenging wounds,” said Sherrie Mays, MSN, RN, VP, Chief of Nursing. “The Wound Care Center will coordinate the focus on wound care with the other disease states that includes infectious-disease management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, laboratory evaluation, nutritional management, pain management, diabetic education, radiology testing, and debridement to address total patient health.”

The new Wound Care Center will be located in the same area as the Infusion Clinic at 1 Trillium Way, Corbin, KY. The wound care services are designed to complement your physician’s care. Patients are frequently referred by their primary care physician, and the program operates by appointment. Based on extensive evaluation, a customized treatment plan is developed to optimize the therapies best suited to address the patient’s needs. Care is usually administered on an outpatient basis.

Types of Wounds We Treat

We treat the following types of wounds at the Baptist Health Corbin Wound Center:

• Arterial

• Burns

• Diabetic ulcers

• Infected or slow-healing surgical wounds

• Ostomy Care

• Pressure ulcers

• Skin grafts/Flaps

• Skin tears/Lacerations

• Venous stasis

Coming for an appointment

Wound Care is located at entrance C2 of the main campus in the Infusion Clinic across from our Outpatient Surgery Center.

Call us at 606.523-8602 for more information or visit BaptistHealth.com/Corbin. Providers from all specialties can refer a patient; however, you do not need a physician referral to schedule an appointment.