A wound that doesn’t heal within four weeks with treatment is considered to be nonhealing, or chronic. These wounds, or ulcers, may become infected and can be painful. Wound specialists at Forbes treat:
- Foot ulcers that often affect people with diabetes
- Ulcers caused by poor blood circulation or vascular problems
- Surgical wounds that don’t heal or respond to treatment
- Pressure ulcers caused from prolonged sitting or lying prone
- Lymphedema (chronic swelling of the arms or legs)
- Trauma-induced wounds
At our Advanced Wound Healing Center, we create individualized care plans that aid the wound healing process. We offer:
- Patient-focused care: Your care begins with a thorough health evaluation that considers all factors that can affect healing. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders, as well as tobacco use and certain medications, can slow wound healing. We partner with you to learn more about past treatment efforts. This information allows us to craft an effective care plan based on your unique situation.
- Skilled team of specialists: To provide comprehensive care, our wound specialists work closely with other doctors at Forbes and throughout Allegheny Health Network (AHN). Your team may include specialists in vascular surgery, infectious disease, endocrinology, cardiology, oncology, and plastic surgery.
- Rehabilitation services: Chronic wounds often occur on the feet, ankles, thighs, and buttocks. These wounds can make walking, sitting, and moving painful or difficult. Therapists at our physical therapy and rehabilitation services program work with you to relieve discomfort and keep the wound from getting worse. We also offer specialized therapy for people with lymphedema.
- Collaboration with community providers: We partner with your primary care physician or referring physician to ensure seamless delivery of care. This partnership allows us to address issues that can impede wound healing, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, or tobacco use.
- Home health services: Our home health services program, Healthcare@Home, can ensure proper wound dressing changes and monitor wounds for signs of infection and healing. We also teach you and your caregivers how to properly care for wounds at home. When needed, we set you up with medical supplies and equipment.
We offer a wide range of specialty wound care services and therapies, including:
- Compression therapy: Compression bandages, stockings, and wraps reduce swelling and keep blood flowing evenly through the legs or arms.
- Debridement: We remove necrotic, or dead, tissue to prevent infection and promote the growth of healthy tissue.
- Dermal products: Cellular- and tissue-based skin substitutes protect wounds from infection and additional trauma, while providing a healthy environment that fosters wound healing.
- Electrical stimulation: Small pulses of low-frequency electrical current directed at the wound area help accelerate healing.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Increasing the amount of oxygen in blood helps heal wounds from the inside. This advanced, time-intensive therapy is appropriate for about 10 percent of people with nonhealing wounds. We offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Advanced Wound Healing Center at Jefferson Hospital.
- Ultrasound therapy: The UltraMIST® system uses a low-frequency, ultrasound-generated saline mist to eliminate bacteria that cause infection and hinder wound healing.
- Wound care products: We use a variety of topical gels, hydrocolloid and foam dressings, and casts to treat wounds.
- Burn treatments: The Forbes wound care team provides care for people with burns. However, people with severe burn injuries receive specialized treatments at the West Penn Burn Center.
Call (412) 858-4388 to schedule an appointment at the Forbes Advanced Wound Healing Center. For other specialists at Forbes Hospital, call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment.
We’re located on the Forbes Hospital campus in Professional Office Building One, suite 306. We offer complimentary valet parking at the main entrance with wheelchair transportation to the center upon request. Self-parking is also free. For ease of access, we recommend parking in the lower patient parking lot D.
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