Wound Care

Five million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds that linger despite conventional medical management. The non-healing wounds can be dangerous and in extreme situations, the consequence can be life altering.

At the UP Health System our specially trained staff works with patients of all ages and backgrounds to assess the situation and create a customized plan that will create the right environment for wound healing. Our staff will work with you from beginning to end to help you get back on your feet.

Conditions Treated

There are a variety of circumstances in which a person needs wound care. They include, but are not limited to:

Diabetic wounds that are slow to heal or not healing
Surgical wounds that have opened (or “dehisced”)
Wounds caused by poor circulation (arterial insufficiency)
Skin damage or open sores caused by radiation treatment possibly even many years ago that is now causing the skin and tissue to “break down”
Skin grafts or surgical flaps that are not healing post-surgery
Even internal ‘injury’ where no open wound exists such as:
Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
Crush injuries from an accident
Damage to internal tissue (soft tissue radionecrosis) or bone (osteoradionecrosis) that causes pain or discomfort which resulted from radiation (radiation cystitis, proctitis, or necrosis)
Animal bites
Infected wounds
Cellulitis

Not all of these things happen in the same way for the same person. If your open sore isn’t healing, you should consult your primary care provider or our office.

At the 30-day mark, it is considered a chronic wound. This is especially common for diabetic patients, who often can’t even feel the pain that the open sore is causing. It is important to have these wounds looked at because an untreated wound can cause life-altering consequences.

In some cases, a wound may persist despite all interventions. In these cases, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be indicated and is available onsite at UP Health System - Marquette.

Videos

UP HealthBreak: Wound Care

UP HealthBreak: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

What to Expect

Some things don’t get better with time. We can help. Our number one goal is to create the right environment for wound healing. During an evaluation, we will:

Clean and irrigate the wound
Remove dead tissue
Determine the type of dressing to use
Educate the patient on caring for the dressing
Apply compression, if needed
Set a schedule for continued care, if needed

Our team will continue to assess the patient’s needs and address them accordingly with ongoing care. We use a variety of dressing types and treatment techniques to find a solution that works for you.

Dressing types include:

Alginate
Hydrocolloid
Collagen
Hydrogel and hydrogel sheets
Composite
Moisture barriers and skin sealants
Foams
Transparent films
Impregnated gauze
Wound fillers
Bioengineered Skin Substitutes

Adjunctive therapies include:

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Our staff will also do an assessment of support surfaces such as beds or wheelchairs in some situations.

Schedule an Appointment

To request an appointment at a UP Health System Wound Care Center, please use the following phone numbers:

Marquette

Phone: 906.449.1360
Fax: 906.449.1845

Portage

Phone: 906.483.1040
Fax: 833.654.0637

Bell

Phone: 906.485.2687

A referral is not required. However, some insurance plans do require that you have a referral from your Primary Care Provider. Please call the number on your insurance card to find out whether a referral is required for insurance coverage. We accept most insurance plans.