Wound Care
When a wound doesn't begin healing within two weeks, or it's not healed completely in six weeks, it needs special attention from wound care experts. The Benefis Wound Care provides a comprehensive, team approach to treat chronic, non-healing wounds that don’t respond to standard treatment.
406-455-2688
Expert Treatment for Chronic, Nonhealing Wounds
Our team of providers, nurses, and healthcare educators with advanced training in wound care develop a treatment plan to help you heal. We work closely with your primary care provider and other specialists as needed to ensure you get complete care.
You’ll make regular visits to the Wound Care for treatment, and your team will adjust your care plan as needed to help you recover as quickly as possible. We make sure you know how to care for your wound, monitor your progress between visits, and recognize problems that need immediate attention.
Wounds We Treat
We treat a variety of nonhealing wounds, including:
- Arterial and venous ulcers
- Bed sores (pressure ulcers)
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
- Blood vessel swelling (vasculitis)
- Burns
- Diabetic ulcers
- Surgical wounds and skin grafts
- Thermal injuries, including frostbite
- Traumatic injuries, including crush injuries
- Wounds and tissue damage from radiation therapy
You don’t need a referral to access wound care services – just call us at (406) 455-2688 to make an appointment. Most insurance plans cover wound care, but contact your provider to learn about your coverage
The Latest Wound Care Treatments
We use ultrasound and other noninvasive techniques to evaluate blood flow around the wound and determine what’s preventing healing. This helps us develop a customized treatment plan based on your needs. Our specialists may use one or more advanced wound healing approaches in your treatment plan.
Compression. Compression bandages or stockings improve blood flow to stimulate healing.
Compression is often used for wounds that develop on the lower legs and feet, such as venous, arterial, and diabetic ulcers. These ulcers are caused by poor blood circulation. Compression bandages or stockings help restore blood flow to the area, which promotes healing.
Debridement. This process removes dead tissue or debris from the wound.
Dead tissue or debris in a wound can have germs or other microorganisms that can slow healing and cause infection. There are several methods of debridement, including ointments with special enzymes that slough off tissue and debris, special bandages, and surgical debridement.
Dressings. There are a variety of wound dressings that stimulate healing and protect against infection.
We use a full spectrum of advanced dressings that improve healing. Dressings may use medicines, vacuum pumps to remove fluid, or other methods to promote recovery.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). This specialized therapy can help some wounds heal more quickly.
Wounds need healthy blood flow and oxygen to heal, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers a high concentration of oxygen to your bloodstream quickly. It provides 15 to 20 times the normal amount of oxygen to your tissues to improve healing. HBOT stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, improves circulation, and activates white blood cells to fight infection.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Bacterial infections, including necrotizing soft tissue infection and actinomycosis
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
- Diabetic ulcers on the feet and lower legs
- Skin grafts or flaps that don’t heal after surgery
- Tissue damage or wounds from radiation therapy
- Traumatic injuries, including crush injuries
You receive therapy while lying down in a pressurized chamber, where you breathe 100 percent oxygen. The pressure rises slowly to allow you to adjust. The technologist will explain how to clear your ears to adapt to the pressure.
Each outpatient therapy session takes about two hours. It’s painless, and you can watch TV or videos, listen to music, or rest. You receive therapy daily for a few weeks – the number of sessions you need depends on your diagnosis.
Nutritional Guidance. Your body needs vitamins, minerals, and protein to heal.
Sometimes, a nutritional deficiency or poor eating habits can slow healing. Your team may recommend supplements or give you a special diet plan as part of your treatment.
Skin Substitutes. This advanced therapy covers the wound to protect it during healing.
Skin substitutes can help close a wound and provide a protective covering over it while it heals. They can be temporary or permanent. Our wound care experts determine which type of skin substitute is right for you.