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Plans for a new wound center at Kaweah Delta Rehabilitation Hospital are in full swing to allow for a spring 2012 opening.
The wound center will offer specialized physician oversight and the first hyperbaric chambers in Tulare County. The program will care for people whose wounds do not heal naturally or respond to other wound-healing methods, particularly diabetics. The hyperbaric chambers infuse oxygen into a patient's system to accelerate the wound-healing process.
"The need is great for a wound center in Tulare County," said Lisa Harrold, director of rehabilitation services for Kaweah Delta Health Care District, who along with Matt Campbell, MD, have worked to develop the program. "We see a lot of patients who have non-healing wounds and when that happens they have to travel out of the area for treatment. That can be extremely hard on a patient."
Plans for the wound center are currently with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Once plans are approved, the rehabilitation hospital will be remodeled to accommodate the wound center for a spring opening. By fall, the center's hyperbaric chambers will be installed and ready for patient use.
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