Newton Medical Center (NMC) is pleased to announce its Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center has received accreditation from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). This makes NMC the first facility in Central Kansas and only the second in the state to receive this distinction.
UHMS accreditation recognizes those facilities that meet or exceed the highest standards of care and patient safety through rigorous evaluation of the facility’s operation. This includes an assessment of equipment, staff and training to ensure that the utmost quality is maintained within the specialty of undersea and hyperbaric medicine.
“This accreditation demonstrates NMC’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for patients suffering from wounds,” said Heather Porter, chief clinical officer. “We are extremely proud of NMC’s Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center team for achieving this significant milestone, and that, as a hospital, we’re able to provide this important service to the community.”
Participating in the UHMS accreditation program is voluntary and takes months of preparation. NMC’s wound care team of physicians, nurses, technicians and management worked together prior to the accreditation survey to ensure compliance with UHMS-related standards of practice and safety measures. The survey team who visited the Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center consisted of a physician, nurse and technician, all of whom specialize in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Although their role included detailed queries, they came as colleagues in a specialty committed to success in achieving the highest standards in quality of care and safety for patients. The UHMS and its accredited facilities share the vision of helping facilities succeed in the field of hyperbaric medicine.
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves the use of medical oxygen administered in a pressure chamber at levels higher than atmospheric pressure,” explains Kim Harris, nurse manager of the Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center. “This pressure helps oxygen dissolve more rapidly into the blood, promoting a higher rate of healing in wounds, serious infections and other illnesses.”
Established in 2010 and with hyperbaric oxygen therapy added to its list of services in 2015, NMC’s Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center provides advanced wound treatment for chronic or hard-to-heal wounds, including arterial and diabetic ulcers, necrotizing soft tissue infections, post-operative wounds and much more. For more information about NMC’s wound care services, visit newtonmed.com.
To schedule an appointment, call the Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center at 316-804-6160.
