Senior Magazine

Valley View Wound Healing Center profiles itself in SENIOR Magazine

It may be a little-known secret, but Valley View Regional Hospital has one of the top three wound centers in a four-state region with a 96% heal rate. For patients, Valley View’s skill and technology has saved toes, fingers, arms and legs.

Two years ago, Angel Wise Talamasey of Ada, Oklahoma discovered firsthand the benefits of Valley View’s Wound Healing Center. “I was told that my finger would need to be amputated, but I came to Valley View for hyperbaric treatment and my finger is healed now,” says 57-year-old Talamasey.

Diagnosed with type II diabetes in 1986, Talamasey has suffered from complications from the disease for years, losing first her right leg and later her left leg below the knee. “We thought the rest of my left leg was going to have to be amputated earlier this year because it wasn’t healing properly,” said Talamasey. “But thanks to Valley View’s staff and the hyperbaric treatments, it’s now healing.”

What was originally developed and used for deep-sea divers with decompression sickness is now used to treat patients with chronic wounds. “By lying in a pressurized chamber, patients breathe 100% oxygen that is quickly delivered to the bloodstream in high concentrations which assists in wound healing,” said Stephanie Mowdy, Valley View wound clinical nurse specialist.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment is effective in fighting certain types of infections, as well as stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and improving circulation. While the national wound heal rate is 88%, Valley View boasts a 96% heal rate and has consistently maintained a heal rate of 90% or higher since 2005. Because of Valley View’s heal rate with wounds, the hospital is among the top three wound centers in the region which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The wound center team includes a full-time medical director, a clinical nurse specialist certified in wound, ostomy and continence care, a certified diabetes educator and two certified hyperbaric technicians. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call the center at 580-272-1731. Physician referrals are not required.

Valley View’s wound team includes: Cindy Brents, RN, program director; Tracy Fisher, patient care tech; Kevin Love, LPN, certified hyperbaric tech; Lindsey Clark, RN; Connie Christy, RN, diabetic educator; Stephanie Mowdy, RN, CNS, certified diabetic educator, certified in wound, ostomy and continence care; Darius Noble, DO, medical director; Chris Lott, LPN, certified hyperbaric tech and Nikki Wilson, LPN.