For many of us who grew up watching medical dramas, medicine looks like a complex world where the interpersonal relationships of doctors sometimes appear more interesting than their patients. This is only half true, while the medical field is quite complex, those who practice medicine believe in caring for the whole of the patient, and not just whatever particular hole is in their patient. This is particularly true when it comes to chronic wound care. This itself is divided into six pillars, each of which is just as important as the last. Coincidentally, this is what we’ll be focusing on today.
Understanding & Control
The first pillar is one of the most pivotal–in order to properly treat the wounds of the patient, they must be properly identified and diagnosed so treatment can be applied.
Inflammation & Infection
Applying treatment to a patient who’s wounded requires an immediate response. It’s within this pillar that we find the administration of penicillin and/or antibiotics to treat the wound and begin the process of healing. Infections can be fatal–so this pillar is of grave importance.
Nutrition
It doesn’t matter what a patient’s physical weight can be when they’re admitted into treatment. In order to properly care for a patient, their nutritional needs must be provided for, as these are imperative to the healing process. Even if a patient is overweight, there’s a slight chance they could be malnourished.
Mental Health
While diagnosing an external wound can be done with sight, caring for a patient’s mental health requires involvement and an impeccable bedside manner. It’s estimated that 46% of patients who enter a facility for wound care have their mental health considerably compromised because of the situation they’re currently in. It’s also important to understand the living situation that the patient is currently in.
Appropriate Therapies
As a patient recovers from their wound, assigning them the proper therapy can make all the difference in their recovery. This constitutes help for both physical and mental ailments. Physical therapy is important for them to regain the use of their extremities and psychotherapy will allow them to mentally heal from any lingering trauma.
Prevention
The final phase of chronic wound care brings us full circle, interconnecting all of the treatments that the patient has received. Prevention covers any aftercare that the patient involves themself with to ensure this doesn’t occur again.
Sarasota Medical Products
An important aspect for all these pillars to function is being properly supplied and prepared. Sarasota Medical Products provides an array of equipment to help patients sustain their quality of life as they recover. For more information, visit us at sarasotamedical.com.