Wound Care

At Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, our highly trained staff use advanced technology to help get you back on your feet—and avoid serious complications of non-healing wounds, such as amputation. Our goal is improve your quality of life by helping you heal.

The Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at GRMC uses state-of-the-art treatments to help chronic and non-healing wounds heal faster and more effectively. As your healing partners, we also help identify underlying health issues that may need additional treatment. We offer high-quality care for many types of complicated nonhealing wounds. Some of the common wounds we treat include:

• Diabetic ulcers
• Non-healing surgical wounds
• Pressure sores
• Venous stasis ulcers
• Traumatic injuries
• Radiation damage

Our team of wound care specialists includes nurse practitioners with advanced training in wound care, a certified hyperbaric technician and an experienced nursing staff. Most wound treatment plans last for 8 to 10 weeks. During that time we get know you and address your concerns. At GRMC, we take the time to make sure you understand your condition and your care plan.

See what some of our patients say about wound care at GRMC.

Wound care at GRMC
GRMC’s wound care clinic offers a wide range of leading-edge therapies and treatments. These include:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Compression therapy
• Negative pressure wound therapy (wound VAC)
• Offloading treatments, which keep pressure off wounds to promote healing
• Specialized wound dressings
• Skin substitutes, an alternative to skin grafts

Our wound care specialists will also work with you to determine why your wound may not be healing properly. For example, an ankle-brachial index test can identify problems with circulation, such as peripheral artery disease. Treating underlying conditions can help you heal—and help prevent non-healing wounds in the future.

At GRMC, our progressive approach means your care doesn’t end when you leave our clinic. In addition to follow-up care at our wound center, we can help connect you with other services as needed, including home health services, nutrition counseling, physical therapy and vascular specialists.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy at GRMC
Breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment can increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. For about 10% of patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, can help wounds heal faster and more effectively when used in combination with other treatments.

Some benefits of HBOT include:

• Reduced swelling for crush injuries.
• Increased circulation as your body forms new blood vessels.
• Increased oxygen in your blood and tissues.

At GRMC, our two state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers offer high-tech healing in a comfortable environment. And our highly trained and certified staff is there to make sure you have a safe and comfortable experience. Your wound treatment team will let you know what to expect during and after HBOT, so you can make the most of your treatment.

Most HBOT sessions last from 90 to 120 minutes. Our chambers are transparent, and you’ll have access to a television during your sessions—but many patients use the time to nap and relax.

You will likely feel some improvement after a few HBOT sessions. However, a normal course of treatment includes around 60 visits. .

Get help for non-healing wounds
If you have a wound that is not healing as well as it should, your primary care physician may refer you to the Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at GRMC. For more information, call us at 830.401.7777.

Meet the team

Cassy Carroll-Schronk, MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who received her RN, BSN, and MSN degrees from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She has been in the medical field since 1999 with the last 10 years in home health specializing in wound care. Cassy completed the Wound Care Specialty course through WEB WOC Nursing Education Program, and is the provider for the GRMC Outpatient Wound Care Clinic.

 

 

Cassandra (Cassie) Schiller, MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who received her Master’s degree at the University of Texas – Arlington. She previously obtained her LVN, RN, and BSN from Galen College of Nursing San Antonio. Cassie has worked at GRMC since 2013, and prior to working in the Wound Care Clinic, her clinical background includes over 9 years of nursing experience in various roles within the hospital.  She completed the Wound Care and Ostomy certification course through WEB WOC Nursing Education Program, and is the Clinical Coordinator for the GRMC Outpatient Wound Care Clinic.