Dr. Doherty is privileged to be affiliated with the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric at Emerson Hospital in Mass. This center is dedicated to state-of-the-art outpatient clinical wound care and hyperbaric medicine.
In a new, state-of-the art facility equipped with one of the area’s few hospital-based hyperbaric oxygen chambers, Dr. Doherty is a member of a multidisciplinary team of physicians, podiatrists, vascular and other plastic surgeons and wound-care nurses that offers expert and, compassionate care.
There are many different types of wounds. Some are associated with complications from diabetes and other related vascular disorders. Other types include pressure sores (bed sores) and traumatic wounds. Patients may be a candidate for wound care treatment if they have a wound that has not healed in two weeks, or is not completely healed in six weeks.
The following are some of the most common types of wounds which can be treated at the Wound Care Center:
- pressure sores (bed sores)
- diabetic and other non-healing wounds
- wounds caused by poor circulation
- wounds caused by trauma
- burns
- surgical wounds
It can be frustrating and time consuming to heal some wounds. At the Wound Centers, Dr. Doherty utilizes the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and he as well as the rest of the staff remain current in new scientific advances.
The staff at the Wound Centers is comprised of a team of caring professionals including physicians with advanced training in wound management, nursing staff trained in the care of chronic wounds, technicians and front office staff who will aid in setting appointments and in health insurance processing.
Patients who come to the Wound Center meet with a clinical staff member for consultation, including a physical examination and medical history evaluation. After a diagnostic exam to evaluate the wound and to determine its cause, the team) will establish a treatment plan with you and will provide progress reports to your primary care doctor. Dr. Doherty typically sees his Wound Care Center patients weekly. Treatments may include:
- Infectious disease management
- Nutritional management
- Physical Therapy
- Pain management
- Vascular evaluation
- Diabetic education
- Laboratory evaluation
- Debridement
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Debridement
Debridement is when unhealthy or non-viable tissue around the wound area is surgically removed. This maybe sometimes be a weekly procedure until a clean wound based is attained. Dr. Doherty performs these debridements in the Wound Center.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in conjunction with the treatments listed above for certain types of wounds. During the hyperbaric treatment, patients lie in a comfortable see-through chamber. While in the chamber, patients will breathe 100% oxygen, enabling their blood to carry 15 to 20 times the normal amount of oxygen. The high concentration of oxygen enables one’s body to function more efficiently and start to heal wound and prevent further types of infection. The time for treatment is about two hours and is on a daily basis depending on the type of wound. Not all patients require or are candidates for Hyperbaric Therapy. Dr. Doherty and other members of the Wound Care Center staff will discuss the benefits of Hyperbaric Therapy and the possibility it its use.
Insurance for Advanced Wound Care
Most insurance plans will cover the cost of wound care treatment when prescribed by a doctor. Please check with your insurance plan about your specific coverage. The Wound Care Center staff will send updates to primary care physicians and will discuss any issues or concerns with them.