Media Center

August 13, 2009

Hudson Valley Hospital Center Opens New “Institute for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine”

ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED CENTERS IN THE WORLD

Cortlandt Manor, NY …Dozens of community and business leaders joined elected officials and administrators from Hudson Valley Hospital Center (HVHC) to cut the ribbon and officially open the state-of-the-art Institute for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine at the Hospital. The Institute is one of the most advanced mono-place (single patient) hyperbaric chamber facilities in the world today, equipped with the latest software, chamber technologies and monitoring systems.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our community a state-of-the-art wound healing program,” said John C. Federspiel, President, Hudson Valley Hospital Center. “The advanced technology combined with the highly qualified and experienced staff will ensure HVHC as a leader in wound management and treatment in our region.”

Nearly five million Americans suffer every year from chronic wounds that won’t heal, causing pain and inactivity for patients. Often these types of wounds are found in people with diabetes, poor circulation, cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy and patients who have experienced traumatic injury.

“Our team employs a multi-disciplinary approach to wound care that is customized to each patient’s medical needs”, said Gary Willard, MD, Medical Director of the Institute for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine. “We use advanced healing techniques and combine them with hyperbaric oxygen therapy when necessary to help patients achieve positive outcomes.”

The Institute houses two over-sized Bara-Med XD hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers that can accommodate larger patients, and are equipped with the latest computer technology to allow technicians to control pressure and temperature, as well as communication and entertainment options for the patients. Patients who lie in the chamber will breathe in 100% oxygen at a rate that is two and a half times the normal atmospheric pressure. “Oxygen plays an important role in wound repair,” said Dr. Willard.

“Often in cases of non-healing wounds, it’s due to a lack of oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen helps transport oxygen to tissues that have been compromised at a rate you can’t normally achieve.” Dr. Willard is board certified in hyperbaric medicine and certified in wound management. Working alongside Dr. Willard will be a Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse, one of only 700 in the world as well as two certified hyperbaric chamber technicians, who have undergone extensive training in the field. Dr. Willard and most of his staff speak Spanish.

The Institute for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine sees patients on an outpatient basis, to schedule an appointment call 914-734-3030.