Inside Methodist Comprehensive Wound Healing Center

Today’s Wound Clinic spoke with Vickye Hester, APR, Communications Specialist of Methodist Comprehensive Wound Healing Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The following interview provides an in-depth look into the facility as well as the day-to-day operational protocol that must take place. Methodist’s dynamic staff is inevitably the powerhouse behind their ongoing patient success.

Today’s Wound Clinic (TWC): Please tell our audience about Methodist Healthcare center and how long has it been in operation?
Vickye Hester (VH): Methodist Comprehensive Wound Healing Center began in 1993 as a Curative Wound Care Center. In 2000 the hospital decided to end its contract with Curative and manage the wound center independently.

TWC: Please describe the center’s staff and the roles that each professional serves.
VH: We are a physician based wound care center. Our Medical Director, Dr. Sam Delk (General surgeon), has served as our director since 1994. We have two plastic surgeons, two internists, an infectious disease physician, and a nurse practitioner who is also a CWOCN. Our clinical lead is a CWS, while another nurse is a CWCA, and our newest nurse joined our team in August. We also have a medical assistant and an office manager. Both a dietitian and a WOCN are available for our patients. I am the nurse manager as well as a CWS.

TWC: How significant is HBOT to the center? Please expand on how the center provides this therapy.
VH: Our sister hospital Methodist North also has a wound care center that opened in 2006. They have two monoplace chambers. HBO has proven to be a valuable tool for those patients with nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers and osteomyelitis.

TWC: Please indicate the types of products your center values the most.
VH: We believe a well-rounded wound center has many tools (products) available for physicians and staff to use. We are currently seeing adequate success with Aquacel® AG ([ConvaTec] Skillman, NJ), using Hydrofera Blue™ ([Healthpoint] Fort Worth, Tex) and Santyl® Ointment ([Healthpoint] Fort Worth, Tex) together guarantees unprecedented success. Apligraf® ([Organogenesis Inc] Canton, Mass], Dermagraft® ([Advanced BioHealing] West Port, Conn), Oasis® Wound Matrix ([Healthpoint] Fort Worth, Tex), and Medihoney™ ([Dermasciences Inc] Princeton, NJ) also efficiently combats wounds and ulcers. We also use Profore™ ([Smith & Nephew] San Antonio, Tex), 3M™ Coban™ 2 Layer Compression Therapy ([3M] St. Paul, Minn), Unna- Flex® boots, and of course total contact casting for plantar diabetic foot ulcers. Medical maggots have also been vital in our efforts to save a limb or quickly and efficiently cleanse a wound. Our North facility has an excellent casting technician, Leroy Newby, EMT-IV who assists patients achieve rapid and great outcomes.

TWC: What are some of the biggest operational challenges the center faces on an ongoing basis?
VH: We must be fiscally responsible in every aspect. The nurses and physicians are conscientious of costs both for the patient and the clinic. Wounds need to be healed in a timely and cost efficient manner.

TWC: What are the Program Director’s favorite aspects of the business and what does she find most fulfilling?
VH: The PD tries to meet every patient and talk with him or her. Many are so very thankful that the wound center exists because they had started to lose hope or were told they needed an amputation. Patients express how greatly the wound had disrupted their life. The PD gets a lot of complements regarding how nice, compassionate, helpful, and efficient the staff and physicians are. This makes her feel good to be part of such a great team.

TWC: Please provide the percentage of types of wounds that are treated each year.
VH:
Diabetic = 28%
Venous= 26%
Pressure= 20%
Arterial= 15%
Traumatic= 5%
Surgical= 3%
All Others= 2%

TWC: Is there any additional information regarding your operation that you would like our readers to know?
VH: We believe it is a team effort to heal a wound. We will readily involve orthotics, dietitians, vascular and/or interventional cardiologists, dermatologists, the patients’ primary care physician, home health, durable medical equipment providers, and the patients’ support person or caregiver. We cheer when we succeed and feel deeply when the only alternative is amputation.

TWC: How can our readers get in touch with you or contact the wound care center?
VH: The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center phone number is (901) 516-3730 or you can find us on the web at www.methodisthealth.org.