Latest news with #WoundCare
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'The hospital that you built'
Apr. 30—QUINCY — The community got a sneak peek Friday at the new Quincy Valley Medical Center. "We've planned, we've thought about it, we've dreamed, and it's only because of the support of this community that tonight is a reality," said QVMC Administrator Glenda Bishop at First Look, a gathering of community members to see what their new hospital will look like. The event included raffles, dinner and beverages as well as tours of the facility. The full tour took about an hour and was led by Madison Lee, who works in QVMC's environmental services department. At each stop a staff member showed how the new facility would be an improvement on the old one, which was built in 1959. The first stop was the Family Care Clinic. Director Rebekah Garfield introduced the triage room, which doesn't exist in the old hospital, she said. "We have a room that we use, but it you go into the clinic, it feels like you're having an appointment, but sometimes you're not," she said. "It's not ideal, especially as COVID started to happen. We have to take (patients) in and then out, and the workflow isn't the best for infection control." The new clinic has nine roomy, well-equipped exam rooms, Garfield said, as well as a large exam room that serves as a procedure room but isn't officially called that. "We perform basic clinic procedures in here, like biopsies or sutures," she said. "Anything that we might need to do as a procedure would happen in this room. This room is about three, maybe four times the size of our current procedure room." The current clinic has five halls with three exam rooms each, Garfield explained. But they're all broken up and separate, making it awkward to monitor them and move from one to another. Moreover, one of those halls isn't functional because of leaks, and one of the exam rooms is being used to store holiday decorations. "We really wanted to keep everybody close together here, because we have people floating and helping other providers," Garfield said. "This really helps facilitate that. I have all my (medical assistants) in one area. They can see who's busy, who's not. You can kind of visualize every exam room, which right now we can't do." Next was Wound Care, which is vitally important, explained nurse Lupe Villa, because you don't know you need it until you really need it. The Wound Care department takes care of diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, burns, lacerations and surgical wounds, according to a display in the department. "The department currently has two shared rooms in the corner of the (emergency room)," Villa said. "When we first started (in 2019) we were seeing five patients a month. Now we're seeing 240 patients a month. We started with one nurse and now we have four nurses." One way QVMC is on the cutting edge is in the use of placental tissue in wound care, Villa said. Sometimes that treatment can mean the difference between saving a limb or having it amputated, she said. Wound Care is also planning to add an infusion day, to administer medications to patients who would otherwise have to go to Moses Lake or Wenatchee, Villa said. "We don't (just) treat the hole in the patient, we treat the whole patient," she said. Radiology had some impressive new equipment, according to Manager Veronica Cruz, including a 64-slice CT scan machine. That means that the machine takes 64 thin, cross-sectional images all at once during each rotation of the scanner. The faster the machine scans, the higher the image resolution and the less time patients must hold their breath, Cruz said. "We currently have a 16-slice (scanner) out in a trailer by our ER, and we take our patients out in the lift," she said. "We've been doing that for over 25 years. We're really, really excited to actually have CT inside." The department also has a brand-new ultrasound machine, Cruz said. The emergency room is specially designed to facilitate the patient's process from the front door to triage to wherever they need to go, said manager Vanessa Diaz. The first four rooms are for basic things like lacerations, Diaz said, and then there are a couple of specialized rooms. One is for patients with mental health issues, she said, with a metal wall that rolls down like a garage door to protect the equipment and so patients can't hurt themselves. "(The room) is soundproof," Diaz said. "We have a camera here in the corner where we can observe them and a window where we can look in and make sure they're OK." There's a trauma room for treating gunshot wounds and car crash injuries, Diaz said, that's climate-controlled to stay humid, preventing injured tissue from drying out. The room next door can serve as a trauma room but is also a negative-pressure room, Diaz explained. "That means if anybody were to come in with airborne illnesses, we can put them in this room and it will filter all that air out," she said. "We kind of seal them in if a patient is contagious." Outside the emergency room, the ambulance bay, the helipad and the sidewalks are all heated, Lee said, so they won't freeze up in the sometimes bitter Basin winters. The Physical Therapy department has a brand-new pool, said manager Amy York. It holds 2,000 gallons and is equipped with a treadmill on the bottom and a chair lift for patients who can't get in and out on their own. "The level of the water goes up and down," York said. "We played around with that today. It is four foot six (deep) right now, that's the highest. It will go down to four feet, lose six inches, in less than five minutes. It's pretty amazing, how fast (it goes down) and then back up again. There's a receptacle underneath that stores that water and then brings it right back." There will be a ribbon-cutting at the new facility May 14, according to the QVMC website, and the hospital will be open to patients May 21. The old building will be demolished as soon as possible, Lee said, to make room for more parking. The Quincy Valley Hospital Foundation has supported the hospital over many years, Bishop said, since it was founded in 1992. "We have a certified wound care nurse because of the foundation," she said. "We have had software upgrades in our emergency department because of the foundation. Years ago, we had absolutely no wheels for our maintenance department ... we needed something to be able to haul stuff back and forth so that we could do repairs on this old building. The foundation took care of that too." The new hospital is the result of the community coming together and making it happen, Bishop said Friday after the tours had concluded. "(This is) the hospital that you built, and will serve this community hopefully for the next 65 years the way (the old) one has," she said. "We look forward to bringing you into this building for more events. We hope you'll come here for community education. We hope you'll come here to share with us during board meeting events. But most of all, we hope that you are proud of the hospital that you built."
NBC News
06-03-2025
- Health
- NBC News
What is scar tape and does it work?
Scars, like diamonds, are forever. Right? That is not necessarily true. Made of silicone, scar tape touts that it can be placed over a wound to minimize scarring and accelerate the healing process. I'm very familiar with scar tape and have used it multiple times. My two kids were both delivered via c-section and I used scar tape after each one. Doctors have told me that while some tend to scar quite a bit, my skin recovers nicely. Even still, I found that scar tape worked nicely to diminish the appearance of my c-section scar even further. We consulted with two board-certified dermatologists to get the scoop on what scar tape is and if it really works for most people. Below, find out what they had to say — plus, get a few recommendations for highly rated scar tape. What is scar tape? 'Scar tape is a wound care product usually made from silicone that is used to help the healing of scars caused by surgery or injury,' explains Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, Florida. In terms of what it does, scar tape provides a protective barrier that can improve the healing environment and help to make scar tissue more flat, softer and less discolored, says Dr. Gary Goldenberg, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Goldenberg Dermatology in New York City. Scar tape can be purchased over the counter and comes in various shapes and sizes to fit all types of scars. This tape can also be cut down to size to fit over scars of various shapes and sizes perfectly. It has medical adhesive on one side, so it will gently stick to the skin without irritating it. Does scar tape really work? 'Several [research] publications have shown that silicone scar tape is effective — this is especially true of post-surgical scars,' says Goldenberg. But you should also manage your expectations. Chances are, scar tape will not make it look like you were never injured at all — but it can diminish the appearance of a scar. It's also important to note that how well it works depends on various factors — including the severity of the wound and how your skin tends to heal. For example, some people tend to heal well, while others may keloid — their skin raises and gets firm as it heals. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, those with more melanin in their skin may be more prone to keloid. They also note that being on certain medications or having certain medical conditions may also make someone more prone to developing scars that keloid. 'It works similarly to a bandage, protecting your scar from bacteria and painful friction which can inhibit total healing,' says Chacon. 'The added benefits of the silicone is better flexibility and added hydration that helps to nourish the skin and promote even, flat healing.' Research also backs this up. One study published in Advances in Wound Care found that silicone scar tape can limit collagen production around a wound, which can help prevent raised or puckered skin. How to use scar tape Want to give scar tape a try? It's most effective to use it as soon as a wound has closed and healed. You should never use scar tape on an open wound. In terms of what to look for when buying scar tape, Goldenberg suggests looking for options made from medical grade silicone and says that they can adhere to the scar for at least 12 hours. Some products may also be reusable, which can be helpful, he notes. When you're ready to apply the tape, make sure the wound area has been properly cleaned and is dry, says Chacon. 'You should also cut the tape down to size so it fits your scar comfortably.' Then, when applying it, she says you should make sure you don't stretch or spread the skin — doing so can put pressure on your scar and slow down or halt healing. ' Press the tape down onto the scar gently to ensure it adheres to your skin. At the end of each day, remove your scar tape gently so you can clean the wound and reapply your tape. Our experts stressed that one of the secrets to making sure scar tape works for you is committing to it. 'To make it most effective, one has to use it consistently,' says Goldenberg. 'It's recommended to use it for 8 to 12 weeks — going past that may produce diminishing returns.' Highly rated scar tape What are other ways to heal scars? Scar tape isn't your only option for trying to minimize scarring. 'There are many alternative options — including silicone gel,' says Goldenberg, who says the topical gel is good for those with an adhesive allergy. Beyond silicone, there are several other treatments that dermatologists recommend. 'I often suggest organic vitamin E oil or petrolatum, which you can apply directly to a healed wound,' says Goldenberg. 'There are also a number of in-office procedures that can flatten and improve scar appearance.' Goldenberg says he often recommends various laser treatments or microneedling to patients. If you're interested in these, know they come at a much larger cost (sometimes in the thousands of dollars range). If you're interested, it's best to consult a dermatologist about your specific scar to see the most effective. Finally, both of our experts stressed the importance of using sunscreen on your scars (after the wound has fully healed). UV rays can darken scar tissue and make the appearance of scars more pronounced, so protecting that skin is important. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed dermatologists on scar tape.
