Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine

Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine in Lewiston, Maine

At St. Mary’s Health System, our Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine team provides specialized care for chronic and non healing wounds. We help patients manage complex conditions, promote healing, and reduce the risk of complications using evidence based treatments and advanced therapies.

Located in Lewiston, our team serves patients from Androscoggin County and communities across Maine. Care is personalized, collaborative, and focused on helping patients heal while staying close to home.

Comprehensive Wound Care Services

Our wound care specialists treat wounds that are slow to heal or have not responded to standard treatment. Each patient receives an individualized care plan based on their medical history, lifestyle, and healing goals.

Conditions we treat include

Diabetic foot ulcers
Venous stasis ulcers
Pressure injuries
Surgical and traumatic wounds
Wounds related to circulation or infection
Ostomy and complex skin conditions

Our goal is to support healing, prevent infection, and help patients maintain mobility and quality of life.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses pressurized oxygen to support the body’s natural healing process. During treatment, patients breathe pure oxygen in a controlled environment, allowing higher levels of oxygen to reach damaged tissue.

Hyperbaric therapy may be used as part of a comprehensive wound care plan for certain conditions when appropriate.

Hyperbaric therapy may help treat

Chronic diabetic wounds
Compromised grafts and flaps
Radiation related tissue injury
Certain infections and non healing ulcers

Our team explains every step of treatment and works closely with referring providers to ensure coordinated care.

Patient Centered and Collaborative Care

Wound care often involves multiple providers and ongoing monitoring. At St. Mary’s, patients benefit from a coordinated approach that brings together physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical staff.

We emphasize education, clear communication, and shared decision making so patients understand their treatment and feel supported throughout the healing process.

Why Choose St. Mary’s for Wound Care

As part of a hospital based specialty program, our wound care team has access to advanced resources and a broad network of specialists. Patients receive care rooted in clinical experience, compassion, and a deep understanding of the communities we serve.

Our focus is on helping patients heal safely and effectively while remaining close to home.

How to Access Care

Patients are typically referred by a primary care provider or specialist. Our team works with referring offices to coordinate timely access to care.

Treating wounds competently and as quickly as possible is important to avoiding infection and/or re-injury. Our Wound Care Clinic offers a wide range of services, including but not limited to:

Treatment of wounds caused by injuries, surgery, and diabetes, as well as ostomy care
Care for common wounds, including diabetic ulcers, venous stasis ulcers and pressure ulcers, as well as the latest advancements in wound care, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy
A wide range of resources for individuals with skin issues related to diabetes and/or neuropathy, which causes numbness or weakness in the hands or feet, as well as other conditions that require more aggressive treatment than is available in traditional medical settings
Helping patients avoid complications such as chronic wounds which can sometimes lead to serious infection and even loss of limb
Foot and nail care, especially for diabetics and those with neuropathy, which can cause numbness and weakness in the hands and feet
Removal of suspicious growths and moles, with biopsy

In addition to preventive services to safeguard against skin wounds or slow down their progression, we can provide a seamless transition to more advanced wound care, if necessary, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skin grafting, orthotics and more.

What to Expect

While every patient is unique, we’ve developed an approach that helps to ensure patients make the most progress possible as quickly as possible. Here’s what you can expect:

A genuinely caring and compassionate team of specially trained wound care RNs/MA’s and physicians, along with trained Hyperbaric RN’s/Technicians
Close collaboration with your specialist or primary care provider to develop an individualized plan of care
Regular private consultations with a nurse who specializes in wound care to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to at home wound care equipment, supplies and processes
Education about the importance of proper wound care and assistance learning how to care for your wound at home

Accessing the Center

Patients can be referred to our Center for Hyperbaric and Wound Care by their primary care provider or an advanced specialist.
Location: St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, 93 Campus Avenue Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: 207-777-8331 Fax: 207-777-8528

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) works by supplying high-pressure oxygen to the bloodstream. It helps to heal certain stubborn wounds which are very difficult to treat using conventional methods. HBOT can also be also used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness after scuba diving (“the bends”) and the after-effects of radiation therapy.

What to Expect

As part of treatment, you will be placed in a special Hyperbaric chamber for the treatment. You will be able to change position, watch TV, listen to the radio, drink water or eat ice. You will be able to see and talk with the nurse at any time.

When treatment starts, you will hear a hissing sound as oxygen goes into the chamber. You will breathe 100% oxygen while you are in the chamber. You will feel warm for a few minutes at the start of treatment. You will feel cool at the end of treatment.

You may feel pressure or squeezing in your ears, sinuses or teeth. This is due to the change in air pressure. Some things you can do to prevent this are to flex your jaw by yawning, drink water, pinch your nose or swallow. Tell the nurse if you notice pain in your ears or other areas.

Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine