St. Joseph’s Health’s Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine has received full accreditation with distinction from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). This accreditation is awarded to centers that meet or exceed highest industry standards and best practices in hyperbaric treatment. Out of 1,100 wound care centers nationwide, the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is one of only 51 in the nation to be awarded the title of Accreditation with Distinction.
“Providing quality care is a top priority for us,” said physician Joseph Byrne, medical director. “We are very proud of receiving accreditation with distinction, the highest level of accreditation available through UHMS, and we’re committed to seeing that our facility serves as an industry benchmark for high standards and exceptional care.”
The Wound Care Center is operated with the assistance of Healogics, Inc., which represents approximately 28% of all the UHMS-accredited wound care programs nationwide, more than any other single organization. The 7,330 sq.-ft. state-of-the-art facility is the largest in Upstate New York, boasting four hyperbaric chambers and 12 treatment rooms. The staff can treat up to 880 patients each month.
The rigorous accreditation process took approximately six months to ensure the highest standards of quality care are achieved. UHMS sent a team of experts to examine the Wound Care Center’s staffing and training, equipment installation, operation and maintenance, facility and patient safety, and standard of care. The Wound Care Center was awarded accreditation with distinction after this comprehensive review.
The Wound Care Center has partnered with Healogics since 2004, offering community specialized care for chronic or non-healing wounds. Healogics-managed Wound Care Centers effectively utilized HBOT and other advanced modalities to treat more than 300,000 wounds last year. HBOT is a safe and evidence-based treatment proven to speed the healing process in certain types of wounds. This therapy can help reduce swelling, fight infection and build new blood vessels, ultimately producing healthy tissue. Additionally, it is effective in fighting certain types of infections, improving circulation and stimulating growth of new blood vessels.