Wound care | HCA Florida South Shore Hospital

Wound care specialists at South Shore

For most people, wound healing is an uneventful, natural part of life. However, for some people, wound healing is a complex medical problem requiring specialized, dedicated treatment.

If you are dealing with a hard-to-heal wound, the specialists at HCA Florida South Shore Hospital are here to help. Our wound care clinicians collaborate to evaluate your wound and create a complete care plan to promote healing and restore your quality of life.

For more information about our wound care treatments, please call our wound care team at (813) 649-2424.

Call us: (813) 649-2424

Types of wounds and conditions we treat

We treat all types of resistant wounds — which are wounds that are not responding to conventional wound-healing processes. We also have access to advanced imaging services to aid our physicians in diagnosing certain types of wounds. Some of the most common wounds and conditions we treat include:

Arterial (ischemic) ulcers
Bone infections
Diabetic foot ulcers
Gangrene
Lower leg ulcers
Postoperative infections
Radiation burns
Skin lacerations
Skin tears
Venous stasis ulcers

Advanced wound treatment options

Our approach to successful wound healing is to provide patient-centered care, which means addressing the underlying cause of your wound, controlling infection and improving your overall health. Different wounds require different treatments, which is why we provide a range of wound treatment options, such as:

Antibiotics — These medications are often used even if an infection is not clearly present. They can be used as a method of preventing infection.
Alleviation of weight-bearing wounds — Keeping pressure off an affected foot can help heal certain types of ulcers. Special casts or boots are sometimes placed on the foot to offload pressure from the ulcer.
Blood sugar control — Infected ulcers are known to cause high blood sugar levels, which lower immune response and prevent wound healing. Adjustments made to diet and medication can help fight infections and heal wounds. Sometimes, insulin shots are given to achieve optimal short-term blood sugar control.
Debridement — This process involves the removal of dead tissue around a wound. It is necessary for wound cleaning and to promote the healing process.
Skin grafts — A bioengineered skin graft or human skin graft can be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers that fail to heal with traditional treatment methods. Grafts have been shown to speed up the healing process.
Specialty wound dressings — The application of medicines and dressings can encourage wounds to close and promote healing.
Surgery — Surgery to improve blood flow in the leg arteries may help with wound healing and spare the need for amputation. Amputation surgery is used as a last resort to stop the spread of infection to the rest of the body.

Following treatment, some patients may require continued care to supplement the healing and recovery process. For this reason, our hospital offers comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation services.

Emergency wound care

Please note if you need emergency care for a wound, you may come to our hospital's 24/7 emergency room (ER) for treatment.
Our wound care team is committed to providing expert care with dignity and respect. The care you receive at our hospital will be coordinated by our hospital staff in partnership with your primary care provider.