Wound Healing Center Overview

Welcome to Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Warren General Hospital. We’re dedicated to healing wounds, preventing lower limb loss and optimizing outcomes for our patients.

If you or a loved one has a wound that is of concern or is not healing properly, we encourage you to visit the wound center for an evaluation. 

A wound that is not healing properly may be complicated by underlying conditions such as diabetes, circulation problems or previous radiation treatment. Sometimes, the simplest of wounds can turn into a significant problem because the body’s normal healing process is affected. Other types of hard-to-heal wounds result from pressure, trauma or infection. Non-healing wounds can have serious health consequences and may adversely affect your quality of life.
 

Types of Wounds Treated  

 
As a comprehensive wound healing center, we specialize in the treatment of all types of non-healing and difficult-to-heal wounds including:

  • Diabetic foot ulcers

  • Venous ulcers

  • Pressure ulcers

  • Non-healing, surgical wounds

  • Arterial/ischemic ulcers

  • Late effects of radiation (i.e., radiation cystitis, proctitis or external wound)

  • Traumatic wounds

  • Infected wounds

  • Crush injuries

  • Compromised flaps or grafts

 

Our Multidisciplinary Wound Care Specialists   


Our wound healing center is staffed with a multidisciplinary team of physicians, along with nurses and technicians with advanced training in wound care, who will customize the most effective treatment plan to stimulate healing.

Comprised of general physicians, vascular and plastic surgeons, podiatrists and infectious disease physicians, our team is dedicated to providing the most advanced healing options to patients, allowing them to recover as quickly and completely as possible. 

As wound healing specialists, our clinicians have a proven track record of healing wounds – even those that have not responded to other treatments.

 

Wound Care Treatment Plans


Our approach to wound care is aggressive and comprehensive, coordinating traditional and advanced therapies and techniques that are proven to reduce healing time and improve healing rates. 

Since non-healing wounds rarely result from a single cause, we begin with a thorough evaluation and diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of the wound. A treatment plan is then developed to give patients the best chance for healing. Most treatments are covered by Medicare/Medicaid, HMOs, and other private insurance. Depending on the type of wound, the treatment plan may include: 

  • Infection control

  • Restoration of blood flow

  • Debridement (removal of dead tissue)

  • Offloading

  • Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy

  • Cellular and/or tissue-based products (skin substitutes)

  • Compression therapy 

  • Foot reconstruction 

  • Skin graft or flap

 

Office Hours:  8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Monday through Friday  (Closed: Saturday & Sunday)

Telephone:  (814) 723-7024

Clinic Location:  Crescent Park, Entrance "3", first-floor,

follow the overhead and wall signage.

Lisa Philhower, PA-C  

Specialty:
General Surgery
Education:
Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Certification:
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine

What Can Our Wound Care Patients Expect? 

Your course of treatment depends on what type of wound you have. During your first visit, our staff will evaluate your wound and review your medical history. You may also need special tests that give us information about circulation and infection. This will help to determine what course of treatment you will need. 

Once a treatment plan has been prescribed, you will visit the wound healing center weekly for specialized treatments and documentation of your healing progress. Keeping appointments and following directions are critical to attaining a positive healing outcome. Some things you can do to assist with your healing:
 

  • Care for your wound at home as directed by the wound care team

  • Take medications as directed

  • Return for your follow-up appointments

  • Keep regular appointments with your primary care physician while you are receiving wound care treatment
     

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy? 


Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment in which the patient breathes 100% pure oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. The air pressure inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is about two and a half times greater than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. This “hyperbaric” (or high pressure) dose of oxygen helps your blood carry more oxygen to your organs and tissues to promote wound healing. It also activates the white blood cells to fight infection.  

Patients typically receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy five days a week for approximately four to six weeks. One treatment takes about two hours and is quite comfortable for most patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used as part of the treatment for certain conditions, including the following:
 

  • Slow to heal or non-healing wounds

  • Diabetic foot ulcers or leg ulcers

  • Non-healing skin grafts or surgical flaps

  • Surgical wounds that have opened

  • Symptoms occurring on or around a point of radiation (such as pain, rectal or bladder bleeding)

  • Chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis)

  • Crush injuries

  • Certain types of sudden hearing loss

  • Sudden vision loss

  • Thermal burns

 

Preparing for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 


An Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Warren General Hospital staff member will tell you how many treatments you will need. During your treatment, you may watch television, a movie or take a nap.

You will be given a hospital gown to turn wear in the chamber. No cosmetics, perfumes, hair preparations, deodorants, wigs, jewelry or electronic devices are allowed in the chamber. Most pacemakers are allowed in the chamber. The hyperbaric technologist will need to know if you are taking any medications, including non-prescription drugs. You are advised not to drink alcohol or carbonated beverages for four hours prior to treatment.  

Smoking and the use of tobacco products interfere with the body’s ability to transport oxygen. Therefore, your doctor will work with you on techniques to help stop smoking during the treatment period.

Following your treatment plan is the single most important factor in your healing.

Our Wound Care Medical Providers:

Valerie R. Dunn, MD, FACS 

Specialty: General Surgery
Education: State University of New York Health Science Center
Resident: Howard University Hospital. Washington, DC
Certificates: ACLS, ATLS
Awards:  Father George Norton Award - 2015. This is an annual award by nursing staff awarded to a physician who exemplifies the kind spirit of Father George Norton, a priest who ministered to patients at Rochester General Hospital for many years.

Yoko Young Sang, MD, PHM 

Specialty: General Surgery
Education: Florida International University, Miami, FL

Resident: Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA
Certificates:

Advanced Trauma Life Support
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Basic Life Support
Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery
Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
Da Vinci Robot Certification 

Mason Tootell, MD

Specialty:
Family Medicine & Addiction Medicine
Education:
Case Western Reserve, College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
Certification:
American Board of Family Medicine


Latroy Navaroli, DNP, CRNP, CWS

Education:
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Robert Morris University
Certification:
Family Medicine, Wound Care