For Immediate Release: June 2, 2008

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464. ext. 44306

St. John’s Hospital introduces Regional Wound Care Center

SPRINGFIELD -- Recognizing the demand for access to comprehensive medical care for non-healing wounds, St. John’s Hospital today unveiled its new state-of-the-art Regional Wound Care Center on the first floor of the hospital’s Pavilion building.

It’s estimated that more than six million Americans suffer from chronic wounds. These non-healing wounds can be caused by injury, surgery and other diseases, such as diabetes, that affect the arteries and veins.

“St. John’s is always looking for new ways to better serve the healthcare needs of central and southern Illinois. Our new Regional Wound Care Center does just that by utilizing the latest wound care technology guided by highly trained physicians and staff who are dedicated to ensuring patients get the best care possible,” says Robert Ritz, President and CEO of St. John’s Hospital.

The Center offers patients a wide array of treatment options under the guidance of physician specialists and clinical staff who are trained in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. St. John’s has two hyperbaric oxygen chambers available to treat patients at the Center. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment in which a patient breathes 100 percent oxygen while lying in a pressurized chamber. This treatment enables the body’s wound healing mechanisms to function more efficiently.

Robert McLafferty, MD, vascular surgeon with SIU School of Medicine, serves as the Center’s Medical Director. “As we see more and more patients with non-healing wounds, we recognize that a comprehensive centralized approach to chronic wound care is the best way to care for these individuals. The Center is using proven clinical practices to provide the best outcomes for patients,” says Dr. McLafferty.

The Center’s Program Director, Patty Knight, will oversee and ensure this commitment to outstanding patient care by coordinating a multidisciplinary approach.

Specialists who provide care at the Center will work closely with the patients’ primary care physician and track their progress by several outcome measures including digital imaging processes.

For more information about St. John’s Regional Wound Care Center, contact Patricia Knight, program director, at (217) 757-6644 or patricia.knight@st-johns.org.