Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport recently opened a facility to provide advanced wound care to area patients.

The hospital held a public open house last month for the Dosher Wound Care Center at the hospital, 924 N. Howe St.

Dosher is partnering in the program with Healogics, a national wound care management company. Healogics provides wound care and consulting services to more than 500 hospitals across the U.S.

“Our hospital is pleased to be able to team up with Healogics to provide this much-needed service to the people of Smithville Township, Brunswick County and other neighboring counties in out Coastal Carolina area,” Tom Siemers, Dosher president and CEO, said in a news release. “This is the third wound center I’ve opened at a hospital, and the need for this type of care never ceases to amaze me.”

John Stone, of Healogics, serves as program director and clinical coordinator of the Wound Care Center.

“The center specializes in advanced wound care of all types and levels of wounds and ulcers. From diabetic wounds to those caused by radiation exposure such as in cancer treatment, we offer hope to those suffering from non-healing wounds,” Stone said.

Wounds not responding to normal medical care for a month are considered problem or chronic ones, according to hospital officials.

Equipment used at the Wound Care Center includes two hyperbaric oxygen chambers, used to treat patients with the most difficult wounds.

“On about 10 percent of the wounds will warrant hyperbaric chamber treatment, and we also
have a variety of other treatment options available, depending on the type and severity of the wound,” Brad Hilaman, medical director for the Wound Care Center said.

“We reserve the chambers for the most hard-to-heal wounds.”

Hilaman, with Robert Zukoski and Ziaollah Hashemi, serve on the Wound Care Center’s physician panel.