Wound Care Awareness Week Sheds Light on a Serious Problem in San Antonio

June 4 through 8 is Wound Care Awareness Week. The staff at Baptist Health System’s Wound Healing Centers want people know that they don’t have to suffer in silence. Because of the stigma associated with wounds, many people do not seek care. Here are some sobering statistics: One in four families has a family member with a chronic wound. 6.7 million Americans are living with a chronic, non-healing wound. 25 percent of people living with diabetes will experience a foot ulcer.

Jayesh Shah, Medical Director at the Wound Health Center at Northeast Baptist Hospital says early intervention is important. “Left untreated, ulcers can lead to amputations, and people living with limb loss are more likely to experience decreased life satisfaction, so early treatment can prevent this from happening.”

Patricia Rios, Director of the Wound Healing Center says the key is education. “We not only offer many therapies to care for and treat wounds but if we can help patients learn how to care for their feet, this can help prevent wounds from occurring in the first place.”

The Wound Care Center recently earned Center of Excellence designation from Healogics, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of wound care services.