LA PALMA : Wound Care Center to Hold Open House

When the La Palma Wound Care Center officially opened earlier this month, it became the second such medical facility in the county and one of 50 nationwide.

The Wound Care Center specializes in the treatment of slow-healing wounds. Nearly 6 million people nationwide suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds caused primarily by poor blood circulation, diabetes or long-term immobilization.

The Wound Care Center will hold an open house Wednesday from 2 to 5 p.m. The outpatient center will offer a brief tour and free foot, blood sugar and blood pressure screenings.

The non-healing wounds are usually on the lower parts of the legs and on the bottom of the feet, say center officials. More than half of amputations are the result of complications arising from non-healing wounds, officials add.

At the facility, patients receive care from a medical team, which includes the patient’s referring physician, surgeons, podiatrists, endocrinologists and nurses--all of whom are specially trained in healing wounds. The center also instructs patients on how to care for their wounds at home, providing information about diet, hygiene and exercise.

The cost to open the center was about $220,000, officials say. The center, at a medical office building at 5471 La Palma Ave., began treating patients earlier this month. For more information, call (714) 994-2241.