By Ryan Maas, BSN, RN

Approximately 18.5 million Americans have diabetes and, of that population, about 1.8 million will suffer from a chronic wound. Incidences of problem wounds are on the rise, due largely to an increase in diabetes and an aging population.

For most people, cuts and scratches heal within days or weeks. But for those whose natural healing process is hampered, a simple sore can become a complex medical problem. Without proper treatment, these problem wounds can hamper physical activity, quality of life and, in some cases, be debilitating.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, which opened at Edward White Hospital in 1999, successfully treats many of our patients with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). HBOT is a procedure which allows a patient to breathe 100% oxygen to the blood stream while relaxing in a pressurized chamber. This delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the blood stream and the wound bed, which rapidly accelerates the healing process.

This treatment is prescribed for approximately 20% of non-healing wounds. In patients discharged from our facility in 2009, our highly specialized panel of physicians successfully healed 92% of their wounds-that’s more than 500 wounds. Patients reported an overall satisfaction rate of 97%.

Proof it Works

As the Director of the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Edward White Hospital, I along with our team of professionals take great pride in the care and healing that is delivered day in and day out. Many patients in the community are suffering from non-healing wounds and are not aware that there is hope and help for them at Wound Care Centers like ours at Edward White Hospital.

My grandfather was one of these people. After fracturing his hip in a fall, a result of helping a frog cross the sidewalk by his garage door, my grandfather needed a hip replacement. Unfortunately due to complications, his incision line from the surgery was not healing as it should in most cases. My grandfather and grandmother were so lost and were not sure who to turn to.

After weeks of little to no progress with healing, I recommended they go straight to the wound care center. They did, and within a few weeks, my grandfather was back to helping frogs! It just goes to show that everyday people need to be aware of the expertise that is available in wound care centers.

National Accreditation

Edward White Hospital’s Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). It’s one of only eight facilities accredited in the state of Florida.

In March the center was also given the Center of Distinction Award for 2009. The honor recognizes the center’s high patient satisfaction rates, exceptional health results and outstanding clinical outcomes over the past 12 months. The distinction is awarded by the center’s partner in wound healing, Diversified Clinical Services (DCS), the nation’s leading wound care management company.

To learn more about Edward White Hospital’s Wound Care Center, log onto our website at www.edwardwhitehospital.com or call (727) 328-6214.

Edward White Hospital’s highly-trained Emergency Department team is prepared to treat everything from minor illnesses and injuries to life-threatening injuries in the quickest amount of time possible.

We know every second counts after that initial call to 9-1-1, to paramedics arriving on scene, to the time a patient is seen by a physician. And that’s why Edward White is proud to celebrate EMS Week.

Response Time Matters

“What they do out in the streets is crucial for the outcomes of the patient, outcome meaning how the patient’s going to do after treatment,” Director of Emergency Department Kevin Forsythe said. “Are they going to be in a nursing home rather than living as normal of a life as possible?”

Forsythe added the treatment stroke patients receive from the time EMS crews arrive to when they are brought to the hospital is critical, from receiving the proper medications to breaking down the clot and communicating all of that with the Emergency Department nurses and doctors. Four hours could make the difference between a successful recovery to leaving a patient debilitated for the rest of his or her life.

“Response time, paramedics’ assessment and care is crucial for [the] pre-hospital setting and sets the tone with the hospital,” he said.

The average time from EMS arrival to a patient being transferred to a bed is less than two minutes at Edward White Hospital. We also are a certified Chest Pain Center and Primary Care Stroke Center.

Be Prepared before an Emergency

A serious accident can happen at any time, yet more than 75 percent of people do not carry any information about who to call in case of an emergency. Even more fail to carry their medical information.

Edward White Hospital recommends you fill out a free In Case of Emergency (ICE) card. You can receive one by calling 877-442-2362 or click here to fill out a form.

Considering many patients take multiple even more than a dozen medications, Forsythe recommends you prepare one step further by having a written list of the names, doses and frequency of each medication inside your wallet along with the name and number of your primary care physician.

Take Time to Thank EMS

Edward White Hospital is proud to work with the dedicated EMS crews in Pinellas County and hope you will join us in thanking the men and women who help save lives every day. We are celebrating EMS Week with daily events including giving them prizes, serving up continental breakfasts, packing up grab & go lunches and treating them to chocolate and ice cream.

For more information the Emergency Department at Edward White Hospital or to get current ER wait times, log onto our website at www.edwardwhitehospital.com. You can also text 23000 to “ER.”

May is Stroke National Awareness Month. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. But according to the National Stroke Association, up to 80% of strokes are preventable.

Some risk factors are controllable while others aren’t. But diet and exercise can certainly help prevent your risk. To set the facts straight, we turned to Edward White Hospital’s Stroke Coordinator Bari Berger RN, BSN.

Q: What are the controllable risk factors for stroke?

A: Controllable risk factors for stroke include stopping tobacco use, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling high blood pressure and controlling diabetes. Controllable risk factors are things that a person can control with medication or by making lifestyle changes.

Q: What are the uncontrollable risk factors for stroke?

A: Uncontrollable risk factors are things that no one can change and medical science cannot do anything about such as genetics, age and race.

Q: What are the five most effective diet tips to reduce your risk of stroke?

A: Americans consume a lot of salt so reducing salt in your diet can go a long way to reduce risks to many diseases like stroke and heart problems. Eating smaller portions several times daily will help in weight reduction and increase a person’s metabolism. Limit fatty products and choosing lean proteins such as skinless chicken, fish, lean meats, and soy products. The more colorful the vegetables that are chosen on your plate the better they are for you; make sure they are steamed, baked, or grilled for the best possible health benefit.

Q: What are the five best exercise tips to reduce your risk of stroke?

A: The single best advice I can give is to make sure a person exercises at least 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. If a person is currently a “couch potato” they should start slowly with small amounts of exercise several times a week and build up to the suggested amount. If there are any medical problems then check with a private doctor before starting any exercise program. Any amount of exercise more than what is being completed currently is an improvement.

Q: What other precautions can people take to reduce their risk of stroke?

A: Getting regular checkups with a private physician will go a long way to reduce a person’s risk. What can you expect when you go? The physician will take a history, complete a physical, and have blood work drawn. Checking blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels are an excellent way to reduce the risk for stroke.

Also here’s a great recipe heart healthy recipe you can try:

Baked chicken and wild rice with onion and tarragon

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 6 chicken breast halves
• 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
• 1 1/2 cups whole pearl onions
• 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon
• 2 cups unsalted chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
• 1 package long grain and wild rice mix and seasoning packet

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 300 F.
• Remove skin and bones from chicken breasts and cut into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces. Combine the chicken, celery, pearl onions and tarragon plus 1 cup of the unsalted chicken broth in a nonstick frying pan. Cook on medium heat until the chicken and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a baking dish, combine the wine, remaining 1 cup chicken broth, rice and seasoning packet. Let soak for 30 minutes.
• Add the cooked chicken and vegetables to the baking dish. Cover and bake for 60 minutes. Check periodically and add more broth if the rice is too dry. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis (per serving)

Calories: 300 Cholesterol 49 mg

Protein 20g Sodium 300 mg

Carbohydrates 29 g Fiber 1 g

Total Fat 8 g Saturated Fat 3g

For more information about stroke prevention, join Bari Berger Wednesday, May 19 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for a free seminar at Edward White Hospital. Check out our online calendar for more details or call 1-877-4-HCA-Docs (1-877-442-2362).

Edward White Hospital is celebrating National Nurses’ Week this week. And when we think of the nurses here at our hospital who selflessly give so much of their time, Engracia Flynn, better known as Gracie, is the first person to come to mind.

Gracie, who works full time in our Emergency Room, has been a nurse for 50 years. Born in the Philippines, she graduated from the Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. Grace is one of 9 children, many of whom have also received higher education in the medical field. Gracie says her father told her, “Her education as a nurse was her investment into her future.”

And what an investment it’s been! Gracie’s worked as a nurse in the Philippines, Canada and the United States- working in obstetrics, forensics, burn unit, endocrine, and emergency. Gracie has worked for HCA for 15 years and spent the past 10 years working in Edward White’s ER with no plans of retiring any time soon.

“I am a simple person; I love my job, my friends, and my family,” Gracie said.

We are so proud to have Gracie working here and look forward to many more happy years together!

And she’s not the only one who deserves recognition this week. Edward White Hospital will be honoring the nursing staff for their excellence and dedication to patients and family in five categories during our Annual Nurses’ Week Awards Ceremony today.

To learn more about Edward White Hospital, log onto or website at www.edwardwhitehospital.com or to speak directly with a registered nurse who can answer your healthcare concerns call 1-877-4-HCADocs (1-877-442-2362).