Wound Healing Center Receives 3 National Awards
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires at North Adams Regional Hospital has received three national awards for its service to the community from National Healing Corporation, an industry leader accounting for approximately 30 percent of the nation’s managed and outsourced wound healing centers.The center was recognized with the Best New Center of the Year Award and the New Center Outcomes of the Year Award, as well as the Front Runner Award for maximizing its resources to meet the growing needs of our community.
“Congratulations to our staff on this stellar achievement,” said Rick Palmisano, president and CEO of Northern Berkshire Healthcare. “Since the inception of the program it has been clear that we have an exceptional group of individuals providing program leadership and care to patients. Their hard work, excellent patient outcomes and exceptional customer service are recognized and appreciated by both leadership and the Board of Trustees.”
The Wound Healing Center achieved a “heal” rate of 96 percent in 2010, indicating that 96 percent of its wound patients were considered healed in nine visits or less. “Those are phenomenal results,” said center director Kelly Morse. “Our dedicated staff made this possible.”
National Healing COO Jim Tyler presented the New Center Outcomes of the Year Award saying, "This award is given to one of our centers which has been open for 18 months or less. In that remarkably short period of time, the Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires has achieved an average healing rate of 95 percent for what in many instances were long-time chronic wounds. At a time when every hour across the nation nearly 10 people with diabetes lose a limb, they achieved a remarkably low amputation rate of less than one percent."
The awards were bestowed during a three-day clinical symposium in Orlando, Fla., attended by 450 wound healing physicians and clinicians from around the country who participated in briefings on new treatment options that may bring additional advances in the care of chronic wounds.
The Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires Medical Director Dr. Fred Landes, Program Director Kelly Morse and Clinical Nurse Manager Ruth Lennon accepted the awards.
"Trends reflecting an aging population and dramatic increases in diabetes, obesity and vascular disease will increase the need for state-of-the-art wound care. With specialized training and leading-edge therapies, we have been able to make a meaningful impact on our community," said Dr. Landes.
Landes, the center’s medical director, is joined by surgeons Tim Baisch, George Csank, Hisham Hourani, and Frederick Loy; and Emergency Department physicians Paul Donovan, Oscar Rodriguez and Robert Sills. Staff members include certified wound care nurse Ruth Lennon; hyperbaric oxygen technician Gladys Conklin; registered nurse case managers Joan Sadlow and Robin Lemay; and office coordinator Wendy Kelly.
The center reports patient outcomes to National Healing that has resulted in one of the most comprehensive databases for wound outcomes in the U.S. enabling the company to share its knowledge with wound care experts from around the world.
The Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires is part of National Healing’s nationwide network of researchers and specialists. Patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in 30 days or more have access to highly specialized wound care including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered skin substitutes, biological and biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies. Patients may be referred by their physicians or make an appointment without any referral.
The Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires at North Adams Regional Hospital is located 71 Hospital Ave. For more information, call 413-664-5690.
