Centers of Excellence > Wound Care
Wound Care Education
Your body is its own healer. But it needs our team of professionals AND YOU to help it heal itself. When you go home after our professionals have intervened, the wounded area requires nurturing from you. Below are instructions that help you to participate as a member of our team and allow you to nurture yourself.
In addition to the instructions below, you will also receive, from your doctor, specific instructions that are developed for your individual wound. Your body depends on you to follow those instructions. Your whole care team depends on you.
Understand At-Home Wound Care
To see an overview of at-home care that will help you avoid the risk of infection, please watch this video.
Nurture Your Body Back to Health
Cleaning
After one of our healthcare professionals has dressed your wound, you should leave the bandage in place for 24 hours. Then remove the bandage. Wash your hands. Then gently clean the area with a mild soap and water. Gently pat the area dry.
Moisturization
Once cleaned, moisturize your wound by applying ointment. Moisture is important for scabbing and timely healing. After moisturizing, put on a new bandage. Repeat this process--cleaning, moisturizing, and application of new bandage--every 24 hours until your wound has come to the end of its healing stage.
Bleeding Monitoring
Bleeding can sometimes occur during the healing process. If your wound starts to bleed, apply pressure to the area for 10 minutes. Then check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If the bleeding continues or there is excessive bleeding at any time, call your doctor immediately.
Infection Monitoring
A little bit of redness around the wound is normal. But increasing redness, swelling, burning, or painful sensation indicate infection in the wound. Call your doctor immediately so antibiotic treatment can be prescribed.
Activity
If possible, do not move the wounded area for about three weeks after the injury or incision occurs. Slowly start using the area again after about three weeks.
Suture Removal
In order to heal effectively, different kinds of wounds require suture removal at different times. Please follow your doctor’s instructions on when to get the sutures removed.
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