Meet Northern Arizona’s Only Expanding Wound Care Center
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) offers many
programs that distinguish it from other healthcare providers
and Advanced Wound Care is no doubt among the top on
that list.
“Weʼre the only wound care program in Northern Ari-
zona, and have been treating patients in Yavapai County
since 2008,” said Cheryl Sofonia, MPH, Program Manager,
Advanced Wound Care at YRMC. “Our program offers
a medical specialty that meets a huge need for specialty
wound care and hyperbaric medicine.”
In 2016, YRMCʼs advanced wound care program had
7,376 patient visits. Sofonia predicts the program will ex-
ceed these significant numbers in 2017.
“Weʼve already doubled our capacity,” she said.
The reason for this expansion? Sofonia attributes the
growth to a larger team of providers caring for patients and
the extensive wound-care services provided.
“Weʼre the only provider with not just one, but two hyper-
baric oxygen therapy chambers,” said Sofonia.
The hyperbaric chambers – pressurized with pure oxygen
– promote healing and fight infections in certain types of
wounds. The advanced wound care team may order hyper-
baric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment along with
wound care treatment. Some of the most common diagnosis
8
July 2017 pccnews
are diabetic wounds, compromised skin flaps, soft tissue
radionecrosis and acute peripheral arterial insufficiency.
Additionally, later this year YRMC will open four new
examination rooms to assist people who need wound care.
And why do people need specialized wound care?
A patient with a wound that has not begun to heal in
two weeks – or is not completely healed in six weeks – is
considered chronic. These patients may benefit from the
proven, best-practice methodologies utilized by YRMCʼs
wound care experts.
Thanks to their comprehensive treatment approach, the
advanced wound care program has a 97 percent overall rate
of healing wounds with an average healing time of 36 days.
YRMCʼs team treats many types of chronic, non-healing
wounds including:
• Arterial ulcers – typically linked to peripheral artery
disease (PAD)
• Burns
• Diabetic ulcers
• Neuropathic ulcers – commonly caused by uncontrolled
diabetes
• Pressure ulcers – injuries to skin and underlying tissue
due to prolonged pressure on the skin
• Surgical wounds – caused by a non-healing surgical in-
cision
• Vascular ulcers – ulcers on the lower extremities
• Venous skin ulcers – associated with poor blood circu-
lation from the legs
YRMCʼs wound care experts work closely with their
patientsʼ primary care providers to ensure continuity of
care. YRMCʼs team includes:
• Francisco Jaume, DO, an Orthopaedic Surgeon and
Medical Director of Advanced Wound Care at YRMC.
Dr. Jaume is certified in wound care and hyperbaric
medicine.
• Anthony Brown, DO, an Internal Medicine Physician
with YRMC PhysicianCare. Dr. Brown is certified in
hyperbaric medicine.
• Ritu Gothwal, MD, an Internal Medicine Physician cer-
tified in wound care and hyperbaric medicine.
• Keith Morse, FNP-C, CWS, a Certified Family Nurse
Practitioner and wound specialist.
• Thomas Rusing, MD, a Surgeon with YRMC Physi-
cianCare who is certified in wound care and hyperbaric
medicine.
Collaborating with this team of providers are 11 regis-
tered nurses, a hyperbaric technician and three adminis-
trative assistants.
If you have a wound that concerns you, talk to your phy-
sician about Advanced Wound Care at YRMC. For more
information, call (928) 771-4788.