St Mary Medical Center, a 190-bed acute care hospital in the High Desert of Southern California, has opened Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine. The new outpatient center is dedicated to the treatment of chronic, hard-to-heal wounds and brings the treatment of hyperbaric oxygen chambers to High Desert residents.
St Mary Medical Center said that Paradigm Medical Management, a company that provides development, implementation and ongoing management oversight for chronic wound management and hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinics licensed and operated by acute care general hospitals, will oversee the program for St Mary Medical Center.
The outpatient center will be led by medical directors Vincent Ajanwachuku, MD, a general surgeon, and Bipinchandra Bhagat MD, who specializes in infectious diseases.
Patients will be treated by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified physicians and clinical wound specialists, all maintaining the goal of successful healing and reducing the risk of amputation and/or disability.
Randy Bevilacqua, vice president of communication at St Mary Medical Center, said: “With hyperbaric oxygen treatments now available in the High Desert, many patients will be able to return to their normal activities sooner and avoid the inconvenience of leaving the area for treatment.”
Dr Ajanwachuku said: “With more than six million people suffering from wounds today, it is imperative that we begin healing patients in our area before they are at risk for amputation.”
Dr Bhagat said: “As the only wound care center in the High Desert, we are proud to say that St Mary Medical Center is healing some of those six million.”