Two major abdominal surgeries left Hickory native Eve Agee with a large
wound on her abdomen that was resistant to healing. The 14 by 20-inch
wound cycled through periods of apparent healing, but then it would plateau,
regress, drain continuously and become septic. The area was tender and inflamed.
What’s more, Agee, who had been widowed for years, was in the beginning
stages of a new romance.
“I finally met the man of my dreams but I couldn’t dress myself,
I couldn’t wear any of the clothes in my closet, I couldn’t
even drive,” said Agee. “I was to the point that all my hair
was falling out and was extremely distressed.”
Her surgeon, Ron Locke, MD referred her to the
CVMC Center for Wound Healing in January, 2014. The wound center staff carefully devised an approach
tailored to Agee’s wound and asked her to commit to an aggressive
series of appointments starting with every other day treatments, slowly
progressing to less frequent visits. Dr. Locke, whose practice is in the
same building, periodically saw Agee during her Wound Center appointments.
The team followed a healing protocol for Agee that promoted healing and
skin rejuvenation over freshly granulated tissue with minimal damage to
a donor site on the top of her thigh. She was given, and followed, specific
nutrition guidelines to optimize healing. Eight months later, her wound
has improved and is now the circumference of her little finger.
Director of the Wound Healing Center, Liane Schubring,
“I call the wound center staff my healing angels. I am very impressed
with the sterile, comfortable environment here and the compassionate care
I received,” said Agee. ”When they sensed I was discouraged,
they were extremely patient. They took time to explain the meticulous
plan to heal my wound to my fiancée, Dean Houser and even taught
him how to change the wound dressings.”
The CVMC Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbarics has achieved outstanding
healing rates and clinical outcomes over the three years it has been open.
In treating patients with complicated wounds of varying types and physical
locations, its medical stuff uses evidence-based guidelines specifically
indicated for particular types of wounds.
“The field of wound care, like many other areas of health care, continues
to evolve and we are continuously identifying enhanced treatments for
chronic wounds,” said Director of the Wound Healing Center, Liane
Schubring, RN, BSN MBA/MHA.“I am so proud of our staff for continuing
to enhance their skills and increase their knowledge through education.
There is not an area of the body that we haven’t treated.”
Why Live With an Unhealed Wound?
Schubring explains how the approach used at the center is based on first
exploring why a wound is not healing. Sometimes this reason can be attributed
to an underlying condition like diabetes, a compromised immune system
or hypertension. Providers at the Wound Center collaborate with a patient’s
other caregivers to systematically eliminate the underlying cause. If
a wound is caused by cancer treatments that have destroyed healthy tissues
adjacent cancerous cells or is the result of a burn, or surgery, other
specific approaches are followed.
If you, a family member or a friend has a chronic wound (one that has not
healed in the last 30 days), you can contact the Wound Care Center directly
at Phone (828) 485-0924. All Wound Center services are performed on an
outpatient basis. If a patient wants to self refer, they can make an appointment
for a consultation as a physician referral is not required. Health insurance
typically covers the treatments if the wound is acute, meaning that it
has not healed after 30 days.