Wound Care
Wound Care
Advanced treatment for chronic, complex and non-healing wounds.
Most wounds heal naturally over time. When healing is delayed, factors such as poor circulation, chronic health conditions, inadequate nutrition, limited mobility, a weakened immune system, age, or previous radiation therapy may be contributing. Identifying the underlying cause helps us develop the most effective treatment plan to support healing.
At Kootenai Clinic Wound Care, we treat chronic, complex and non-healing wounds for patients of all ages. Your care starts with looking closely at the wound and the factors that may be affecting it. From there, we develop a treatment plan based on what we find.
Some wounds need expertise beyond wound care. When they do, our team works closely with Kootenai Health specialists in orthopedics, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry and infectious disease. It’s specialized wound care, with the right expertise brought in when you need it.
More Expertise in One Place
More Ways to Heal
Nurse-Led Ostomy Support
Our Services
Conditions
Ulcers and Pressure Injuries
- Arterial ulcers
- Diabetic ulcers
- Venous stasis ulcers
- Pressure injuries (bedsores/pressure ulcers)
Surgical and Traumatic Wounds
- Surgical site complications
- Skin tears and lacerations
- Traumatic wounds
- Infected grafts or flaps
Burns and Radiation-related Wounds
- Thermal and chemical burns
- Radiation burns and other radiation-induced wounds
Other Complex Wounds
- Wounds related to chronic osteomyelitis
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
When to Consider Specialized Wound Care
A referral may be recommended when a wound has not improved in two weeks, has not healed in six weeks, or shows signs of infection, poor circulation or tissue damage.
Treatments
Your first visit starts with an assessment of your wound and factors that may be affecting healing. Your provider will talk through treatment options with you and explain steps you can take to support healing, including the role nutrition can play.
Depending on what your wound needs, treatment may include:
- Debridement
- Total-contact casting
- Advanced skin substitutes
- Negative pressure wound therapy (Wound Vac)
- Compression therapy using multi-layer wraps
- Ultrasonic mist treatment
- Platelet-rich plasma for venous and diabetic foot ulcers
- Ostomy care (nurse led)
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) – Learn about HBOT
Support for Healing and Recovery
Healing a wound can involve more than treating the wound itself. When needed, our team can connect you with Kootenai Health services that address mobility, nutrition and other factors that can affect healing and independence.
- Lymphedema treatment
- Wheelchair and seated mobility assessments
- Assessment of need for mobility and functional aids to support independence with activities of daily living
- Whirlpool therapy
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Smoking cessation
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
For certain wounds and medical conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber to increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the body's tissues, helping support healing and fight infection.
