At the age of 88, Hickory resident J.V. McKinney has never been a traditional
underwater “diver”. However, as of August 2016, he has logged
an impressive 40 two-hour sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy “dives”
at the CVMC Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbarics. While the treatments
followed the recommendation of his oral surgeon, McKinney’s extraordinary
experience both with the advanced technology of these procedures and the
caring staff at the center motivated him to share his story with our readers here.
A cancer survivor, McKinney’s oral surgeon sent him to the center
for a series of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments
before and
after a tooth extraction. The adjunct treatment helped stimulate healthy tissue
in his jaw area where prior radiation treatments compromised blood flow
to his bone. The successful outcome of his treatments involved bathing
the body in pure oxygen to promote robust tissue generating maximum healing
outcomes — essentially from the inside out.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy takes place in a clear chamber that you can see
out of while lying comfortably on a bed inside. There, McKinney could
watch TV and/or relax in the pressurized chamber simulating depths of
53-feet while inhaling one hundred percent oxygen that his blood then
carried to the injured area. In particular, he credits two of the Hyperbaric
Oxygen Technicians at the Wound Care Center for easing his anxieties and
providing daily care during the total 80 hours of treatments.
“Elise Lewis, RRT-RCD and Robin Shook, LPN were both outstanding
and helpful in every way possible,” says McKinney. “Not just
for me, but also for the other two male patients who shared my 1pm appointment
times. During my first appointment with Dr. Alan Keys, he introduced me
to his staff members and then had Elise take me to the treatment area
for a thorough explanation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”
McKinney knows a thing or two about customer care. Retired now, his extensive
career in manufacturing, engineering, marketing and sales as a vice president
and then president of two companies called for laser focus on quality,
service, teamwork and customer satisfaction.
“Elise and Robin were just two of the kind and compassionate individuals
who made us all feel important in a healing environment full of caring
staff,” says McKinney. “During the innovative oxygen therapy
sessions, professionals at the center proved to be skillful, efficient,
friendly and caring. They are all determined to go the extra mile to ensure
total care and help for patients. This stands out clearly as a main objective
of the entire organization – which I believe is a role model for
healthcare. All the people involved in my care from the first appointment
on are the reason I feel this way.”
To learn more about what impressed McKinney and further explore the comprehensive
wound care services offered at the
CVMC Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbarics, prospective patients are asked to call 828.485.0924. A physician referral
is not required.