Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Healing

Comprehensive Wound Care

Catholic Health's Centers for Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Healing, located across Long Island, treat chronic wounds or ulcers that haven't responded to treatment after four weeks or haven't healed entirely after two months.

Our wound care specialists develop treatment plans for your unique needs, including complex wounds that require advanced dressings or extensive care, to help your body heal and improve your quality of life.

Care Across Long Island

Our Wound Care Centers

Long Islanders find comforting care at Catholic Health's Centers for Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Healing in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Patients with chronic wounds once had to go from one health care provider to another to complete their treatment. Our centers make it possible to get all the care you need in one location.

Types of Wounds We Treat

What to Expect at Your Appointment

During your first appointment, we work with you to find the right wound healing therapies for your needs and medical history. Your physician may order special tests to learn about circulation to your wound. Poor circulation can make it difficult for a wound or an ulcer to heal.

We design your customized treatment plan with this information. Once your treatment has been prescribed, you’ll visit us regularly for therapy and documentation of your healing progress.

Services We Provide

Biologic skin substitutes
Compression therapy
Diabetes education services
Diabetic foot management
Edema management
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy
Labs, imaging and scans
Nutritional counseling
Off-loading (taking pressure off the wound)
Sharp debridement (removal of dead tissue)
Specialty dressings that promote healing and limit the potential for infection
Topical prescription medications and antibiotic therapy
Vascular studies (tests of circulation)
Wound care education

Wound Care Patient Back on His Feet

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Long Islander Mike Manning was successfully treated for a severe foot infection and avoided amputation of his foot thanks to the wound care team at St. Joseph Hospital.

“If someone tells me they’re going to amputate my foot, you better believe I’m going for a second opinion. I have seven grandkids who I still want to run around with. I’m not ready to be in a wheelchair,” said Mike.

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy

Catholic Health offers hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, a treatment that helps a patient's blood carry more oxygen to their organs and tissues to promote wound healing as well as activates the white blood cells to fight infection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy?

HBO therapy is a treatment in which a patient breathes 100% pure oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. The air pressure inside an HBO therapy chamber is about two and a half times greater than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. This hyperbaric–or high-pressure–dose of oxygen helps your blood carry more oxygen to your organs and tissues to promote wound healing. It also activates your white blood cells to fight infection.

How is HBO therapy administered?

HBO therapy is an outpatient procedure used in combination with other treatments. You'll receive it once daily for approximately four to six weeks. One therapy session takes about two hours and is quite comfortable for most patients.

Which types of wounds can be treated with HBO therapy?

Wounds treated by HBO therapy include:

Journey to Healing from Complicated Wounds

Betty Bohlander survived breast cancer. But her quality of life was impacted by wound complications from surgery and progressive radiation treatments. She was successfully treated with HBO therapy at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Healing at St. Joseph Hospital.

“I love the nurses there..I’m going to miss them," said Betty.

Bernard Chaimovitch's extensive radiation treatment for prostate cancer led to inflammation and colon damage called radiation proctitis. His wounds healed thanks to HBO therapy at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine & Wound Healing at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital. The process was made easier by dedicated staff.

“Anthony, the technician, explained it to me thoroughly and really set my mind at ease," said Bernard.