The Whit Wound Clinic recognized for excellence

When Whitfield Regional Hospital opened its wound care clinic in August 2019, the goal was to have 25 patients within the first few months. It only took a few weeks.

So successful has the unit become that it is recognized as being in the top 10 percent of eligible Healogics Wound Care Centers, considered the nation’s wound healing expert. Healogics heads a network of more than 600 such centers.

On May 12, doctors, hospital administrators and clinicians at The Whit celebrated as the Wound Care Center received the Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Clinical Excellence Award for 2021. The honor is based on the Comprehensive Healing Rate.

“It’s a big deal, a really big deal,” said hospital CEO Doug Brewer. “We couldn’t be prouder of our wound clinic team.”

Since the unit began operation, The Whit Wound Care Center has treated 569 patients, seeing some 10-13 each day, said Carly Fisher, Clinical Program Director. The unit is working to increase the number of daily patients to 15.

The center offers specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time.

“We have a good team, a close team,” said Fisher. “Patients are like family.”

Starting the Wound Care Center was a leap of faith to the hospital board.

“It was a big investment to get up and running,” said former board chairman Alan Bishop, but taking that chance has proved financially successful for the hospital.

Since wounds such as those treated in the unit take a long time to heal, it is much more convenient for patients to be seen in their local hospital than having to travel weekly to a facility an hour or more away.

“It was a cost, but it was a need,” said Bishop.

“It’s a win-win for our region and our hospital,” added Charles Singleton, current board chairman. “The award is a testament to the quality of patient care.”

“I think the main thing about healing wounds, especially in this area, is due diligence,” said Dr. Keith Roberts, medical director. That means staying on top of treatments and making sure appointments are kept.

Fisher said patients usually come for weekly treatments and then follow care at home. For a wound to heal, she said, it is an evolving process. Treatments can last anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year, depending on the severity of the wound.

“We hope to heal the patient by 14 weeks,” she said. WRH has many resources so patients can get the care they need close to home, she added.

“We are so very fortunate to be able to offer wound care services for the patients in our community,” said Donna Sue Gandy, Wound Clinic Oversight director. “Our patient volumes have grown tremendously thanks to the excellent care provided by our WWC staff.”