Most people realize that hospice care focuses on reducing pain and symptoms, but did you realize it can also include wound management like you’d find at a hospice inpatient unit?  This service is vital because many of our patients have conditions such as:

• Pressure ulcers
• Cancer-related wounds
• Diabetic ulcers
• Surgical wounds

When you are in hospice care, you have decided not to seek curative medical treatment—only “comfort care.” In this case, the purpose of wound care is not to cure the illness but to provide pain relief and make the patient more at ease.

“Problem wounds can have a dramatic impact on a patient’s quality of life,” said Rhonda Creech, Hospice Inpatient Facility Clinical Director for Kitty Askins Hospice Center & Crystal Coast Hospice House. “Hospice wound care helps ensure that our patients’ chronic wound symptoms are managed so they can spend more time with those they love most.”

There are multiple reasons that you or your loved one should take advantage of the services offered by Hospice Inpatient Units. We’ve outlined five of them below.

5 Ways Wounds Are Treated At Our Hospice Inpatient Units

1. Specialized Expertise All in One Place

Our teams include certified wound nurses throughout the organization who are equipped and prepared to treat wounds.

By crafting advanced treatment plans, we can prevent infections and provide care that aligns with your overall goals.

We will discuss your goals for comfort and the quality of your life. Working together, we’ll craft a wound care plan that honors all your wishes. 

2. Effective Pain and Symptoms Management

In hospice, the goal is not to cure your wound but rather to manage it in a way that minimizes your distress. Some of the methods we may use to provide relief include medications and specialized dressings

3. Effective Infection Prevention

Hospice patients often have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections, especially when dealing with chronic wounds. To protect your health, we focus on preventing infections and ensuring your wound doesn’t worsen.

At 3HC, we have strict infection control measures that include:

• Proper and timely wound cleaning
• Regular dressing changes
• Rigorous hygiene practices

We place patient safety among our top priorities. Steps taken to prevent infection minimize the chances of hospitalization. 

4. Comprehensive and Holistic Care for Patients and Families

We understand that not only are you or your loved one facing the challenges of a physical illness, but that problem wounds can have a psychological aspect as well. Stress, anxiety and concern can all take a toll on mental health.

This is why we coordinate with your entire team: hospice nurses, social workers and chaplains. We also provide education for you and your family on wound care and guidance on how to remain comfortable when faced with the challenge of wound care.

5. Comfort-focused Care and Support

While acute care settings may focus on aggressive curative treatments, our facility places a greater priority on your quality of life. We will always respect your dignity in your home or a home-like environment. We’ll respect your personal wishes and goals of care, including symptom management.

Does Inpatient Hospice Provide Wound Care?

Yes, our inpatient hospice services include wound care. Our experienced hospice wound care nurses and other medical professionals work together with the entire health care team to prevent non-healing wounds from festering, causing pain and discomfort.

What Types of Wounds Can Be Treated at Hospice Inpatient Units?

We mentioned a short list above, but it’s crucial to remember that chronic wounds like leg ulcers, pressure sores and cancer-related wounds can cause a series of uncomfortable issues, including:

• Pain
• Excessive drainage
• Bad odor
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Emotional distress

These can be handled at inpatient hospice.

How Often Are Wound Dressings Changed at Our Hospice Inpatient Units?

There is no one answer to this question. Wound dressings are changed as they are needed, depending upon the situation. For example, if the patient has a wound with heavy drainage, it would need to be changed more often to not only ensure cleanliness, but to reduce chances of developing an infection.

With wound care in hospice, the focus is on patient comfort and successfully managing your levels of pain. We’ll develop a care plan to address all these concerns. The result will help dictate when and how often dressings should be changed.

3HC Provides Comfort Care for Extensive, Chronic Wounds

For decades, we’ve helped patients with serious wounds maintain a good quality of life so they can spend meaningful time with those they love most. This philosophy is part of our mission to treat our patients and their families like members of their own. 

When you’re a member of the 3HC family, you not only have access to leading medical comfort care, but you also have a team that will support you and those you care about. Whether you need assistance from our experienced hospice nurses or spiritual comfort from our chaplains, we provide the assistance you need with compassion. 

Have you been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness? Can someone you love take advantage of our full scope of hospice services? Don’t wait. Just simply contact us so we can help you maintain a better quality of life. 

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Sources:

Chrisman CA. Care of chronic wounds in palliative care and end-of-life patients. Int Wound J. 2010 Aug;7(4):214-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-481X.2010.00682.x. Epub 2010 May 28. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7951627/ 

Wound Care Education Institute, “Hospice Wound Care: 3 Strategies for Better Patient Outcomes,” https://blog.wcei.net/hospice-wound-care-3-strategies-for-better-patient-outcomes