Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced the establishment of Vermont’s only comprehensive Center for Wound Healing. Located on the BMH campus, the Center provides the most advanced therapies available for the treatment of chronic and non-healing wounds.
When the Center opens its doors and begins seeing patients on May 9, it will be the first facility of its kind in the state of Vermont and has been designed to serve the tri-state region, said BMH President and CEO Steven R. Gordon.
“Chronic, non-healing wounds are a problem for 8 million Americans, many of whom are elderly and managing chronic health problems, including diabetes, venous disease and injuries from radiation therapy,” said Gordon. With Windham County having the oldest population in Vermont, which in turn is the second oldest state in the whole country, Gordon adds that “The BMH Center for Wound Healing fills the need for this vital medical service not only for our local community, but also for the region.”
Plans for the Center were submitted to the Green Mountain Care Board last September, said Gordon. Soon after receiving approval, the hospital began implementation of the program which included renovations to 2,500 square feet of existing space, providing staff training and acquiring technology, including two hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chambers.
HBOT has been proven highly effective in fighting chronic wounds. The patient enters a chamber that delivers pure oxygen into the blood stream, increasing the body’s natural ability to fight infection as well as build new blood vessels and healthy tissue.
Gregory Gadowski, M.D., of Brattleboro General Surgery has been appointed as the Center’s Medical Director. Under his guidance, the trained staff of physicians, nurses and technicians will work with patients to set up individualized treatment programs utilizing HBOT, negative pressure therapy, bioengineered tissue and biosynthetics to treat open sores and to heal wounds.
The BMH Center for Wound Healing will begin accepting new patients at the end of April. An Open House has been scheduled for 5:00 pm on May 7 to give the public an opportunity to tour the facility and meet the medical staff. For more information, call the Center for Wound Healing at 802-275-3674 or visit the BMH website at www.bmhvt.org.
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About Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) has provided health care services for over 100 years. A licensed, 61-bed, not-for-profit community hospital located in southeastern Vermont, it serves a rural population of about 55,000 people in 22 towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The medical staff includes 137 board-certified physicians, both primary care and many specialists, and its 572 employees enjoy the help of over 110 active volunteers.
