Comprehensive wound care

Our Wound Care Center provides up-to-date, comprehensive wound care services for both inpatients and outpatients. Care is provided by our staff of physical therapists under the direction of a medical director. Many of our therapists are also certified wound specialists through the American Academy of Wound Management.

Our specialized care team includes:

• Surgeons: Vascular, general, reconstructive 
• Specialty physicians: Infectious disease, internal medicine, podiatry, psychology
• Wound care specialists: Wound nurses, therapists (occupational, physical), diabetes educators, nutritionists

We're experts on the various wounds patients can experience, including:

Choosing our Wound Care Center means you'll have access to a full range of treatment options, including:

• Negative pressure therapy like Wound V.A.C. Therapy (the application of pressure to a wound using a therapy unit to continuously convey negative pressure to a wound dressing, helping promote wound healing)
• Compression wrapping for swelling or circulation problems
• Debridement (gentle removal of unhealthy tissue in the wound)
• Use of advanced dressings
• Modalities (i.e. ultrasound, pulsed lavage for cleansing)
• Total contact casting (for reducing pressure on foot wounds)
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Advocate Lutheran General is home to the largest hyperbaric treatment center in the state. We are experts in this therapy and have used it to treat people for more than 40 years. Hyperbaric treatment allows a person to breathe 100 percent oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. The increased oxygen and increased pressure put 10 to 20 times more oxygen directly into the body's tissues, which can result in many therapeutic effects in the healing of wounds, body tissues, infections and more.

Our state-of-the-art, computer-driven center is equipped with the latest technological breakthroughs:

• Treatment capacity of 12 patients at a time
• Comfortable seating
• Radio and TV entertainment
• Interaction with a qualified health professional during the duration of the treatment

Compared to monoplace (one-person) facilities that require patients to lie in a small isolation chamber during treatment, our hyperbaric oxygen therapy environment provides comfort and reassurance that promote optimal healing.

Learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Advocate Health Care or read a brochure about our center [PDF].

Contact us

To find out how hyperbaric treatment can benefit you or someone you know, you may contact us via:

Telephone:
847-723-5090
If your call is not answered directly, leave a detailed message and we will respond as soon as possible.

Email:
Dan Mazzolini at dan.mazzolini@advocatehealth.com

U.S. Mail:
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Respiratory Care Department
Hyperbaric Medical Director
1775 Dempster St.
Park Ridge, IL 60068

At your first visit, it is important to evaluate your medical history and overall general health. This will help us identify the reason that your wound is having difficulty healing.

In order to fully evaluate your medical history, fill out our patient history form [PDF] and bring it with you to your first appointment.

Please also bring the following:

• A list of all current medications and doses (including insulin and aspirin)
• A list of all allergies, medical records, x-rays, or test results
• Insurance cards and any required insurance forms (referrals or authorizations)

Do I need a referral from my doctor to receive treatment?

Yes, you need to have a physician-signed order that states "physical therapy wound care evaluate and treat" with the location of your wound (e.g., right lower extremity) and the physician's diagnosis (e.g., venous insufficiency).

Will insurance cover the costs of treatment?

Many health care plans will pay for some or all of the costs associated with your wound care treatment.  Check with your insurance company specifically for outpatient physical therapy wound care coverage details.

Where is the Wound Care Center located?

We are located across from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Free parking is available behind Portillo's restaurant. Let us know if you have special physical needs requiring assistance.