The Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine at Oswego Health, managed by Healogics, Inc., offers hyperbaric medicine and provides specialized treatment for chronic or non-healing wounds.
Our physician-led team, which also includes specially trained nurses and others, is dedicated to healing chronic wounds.
Providers
Lorraine A. Ladd-Falanga brings over twenty years of experience to The Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine and is no stranger to Oswego Health. Throughout her career, she held various positions at Oswego Hospital including being a Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department and serving as a Hospitalist. She’s worked throughout Central New York at the major healthcare systems and most recently was a Nurse Practitioner at Delph Health Care where she provided medical care to patients requiring admissions.
Dr. Carlos Dator Jr., graduated from Oswego High School and attended Loyola College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, graduating cum laude. He obtained his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, located on the island of St. Maarten. He completed his family medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.
Along with serving as medical director for the Center of Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine, Dr. Dator is a hospitalist providing care to Oswego Hospital patients, and also sees patients in a private office in Oswego, where his physician mother, Carmen Dator, MD, provides care. His father, Carlos Dator, MD, is also a local physician.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
If you suffer from sores or wounds that have not significantly improved from conventional treatments, our specialized treatments can help you heal. We offer state-of-the-art treatments including debridement, either advanced or specialty dressings, cellular and tissue-based products, compression therapy, treatment of infections, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and patient education.
Our center features four treatment rooms and two hyperbaric chambers. These chambers offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy that help the body’s oxygen-dependent, wound healing mechanisms function more efficiently.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can accelerate wound healing.
We offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our Center to give you convenient access to a well-regarded wound treatment therapy with a high rate of success. Patients are generally very satisfied with this painless technique, during which you can watch a movie or just relax.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is commonly used for these conditions:
- Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities
- Delayed effects of radiation injuries, such as osteoradionecrosis and soft-tissue radionecrosis
- Preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
For more information about the center, call 315.326.3780.
Wound causes
Associated with inadequate circulation, poorly functioning veins and immobility, non-healing wounds lead to lower quality of life and may lead to amputations. When wounds persist, a specialized approach is required for healing.
It is estimated that 6.7 million people currently live with chronic wounds, and that number is expected to grow at more than 2% for the next decade. The rising incidence is fueled by an aging population and increasing rates of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity and the late effects of radiation therapy.
Untreated chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life and possibly amputation of the affected limb. Chronic wounds represent a cost of more than $50 billion to the healthcare system. More than 29 million people (9.5% of population) have diabetes in the United States, and almost two million of those people annually will develop a diabetic foot ulcer or other non-healing wound. Advanced wound care aims to prevent amputations and heal patients in a faster and more cost-effective way.
At the Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine at Oswego Health, we follow treatment protocols specifically established for each type of wound. We utilize the latest approaches to wound healing and remain current in new scientific advances in wound care.
What to expect
Patients are often referred by their primary care provider, however a referral is not needed to make an appointment.
The initial appointment consists of a full assessment to determine the etiology of the wound, the appropriate classification and size of the wound, the overall health status of the patient and the patient's ability to comply with needed therapies.
Based on the evaluation, a customized treatment plan is developed to optimize the therapies best suited to address the patient's needs. Wound size and depth are documented at the initial visit and again at each subsequent visit. Some of the diagnostic modalities which may be used include:
- Laboratory evaluation
- Radiology (including MRI)
- Transcutaneous oxygen testing
- Vascular studies, electrocardiogram
- Ultrasound
After this determination, a program specifically tailored to your needs will be initiated based on the most effective treatment options. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to provide the maximum healing possible.
Specialized wound care is usually administered on an outpatient basis. Patients are free to drive themselves to the center for therapy, and you should plan two-and-a-half to three hours for each visit.
Preparing for your treatments
Following an initial consultation and examination at the center, you will receive complete instructions regarding your treatment.
Note: You should refrain from smoking or the use of any tobacco products during the entire course of therapy. Tobacco use will prolong or even prevent healing of a wound site due to its effect on the blood vessels in your body.
If you are sick or on medication
If you have a cold or cough, the flu, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, inform the staff at the center before your treatments begin. Also alert the staff to any medications you are taking or changes in medication during your treatment. If you are diabetic, please eat properly and continue to take your prescribed medication to control your blood sugar level.
For more information about the center, call 315.326.3780.
Reviewed 1/31/2023
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology. "Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar." https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/wound-care-minimize-scars.
- American Family Physician. "Dog and Cat Bites." https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0815/p239.html.
- American Family Physician. "Wound Care." https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0115/p86-s1.html.
- Familydoctor.org. "Cat and Dog Bites." https://familydoctor.org/cat-and-dog-bites/.
- Familydoctor.org. "What Do I Need in My First Aid Kit?" https://familydoctor.org/what-do-i-need-in-my-first-aid-kit/.
- MedlinePlus. "Animal Bites—Self-Care." https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000734.htm.
- MedlinePlus. "How Wounds Heal." https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000741.htm.
- USA Today. "A Cat Bite Can Turn into a Hospital Stay, Study Says." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/09/cat-bite-hospital-stay/5276997/.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. "Cat Bite Injuries to Humans." https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/wounds-cat-bite-injuries-to-humans.
Wound care: True or false?
Punctures, cuts, tears in the skin. Even minor wounds require some attention. Take this quiz to find out how to take care of minor wounds.
True or false: Most wounds should be cleaned with a disinfectant like hydrogen peroxide.
False. Disinfectants can sometimes delay healing. Instead of using hydrogen peroxide, hold the wound under clean running water. Use a soft washcloth and soap to clean the area around the wound. If there's dirt in the wound, gently remove it with a clean, moist cloth. But try not to get soap inside the wound.
True or false: Wounds generally heal best if they are kept moist and protected.
True. After you've stopped the bleeding, cover the cleaned wound with an adhesive bandage. Or cover it with gauze—and wrap with more gauze or an elastic bandage to hold it in place. Change your dressing and clean the wound daily. Change it sooner if it gets loose, wet or dirty.
True or false: You can use butter to soothe a burn.
False. Do not put butter, oil, toothpaste or antibiotics on burns. Soak small, minor burns in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then apply petroleum jelly, and reapply two or three times daily. Cover the burn loosely with nonstick gauze, and change the dressing daily. Put a cool wet cloth on it for a few minutes every day. For more severe burns, including any that are larger than 2 to 3 inches across, see a medical provider.
True or false: You don't need to worry about tetanus unless your skin is punctured by rusty metal.
False. You can catch tetanus by stepping on a rusty nail. But you can also get it from an animal scratch or bite, bug bites, or even a burn that breaks the skin. Tetanus infections can be serious. So for just about any wound that breaks the skin, it's better to be safe than sorry. Get a tetanus shot if you're not up-to-date on your boosters.
True or false: You should always call your doctor if you're bitten by a cat.
True. Cat bites often get infected. You may need antibiotics or a tetanus shot. Your provider can clean and treat the wound appropriately.
You'll be ready to take care of minor wounds, cuts and scrapes at home if you have a well-stocked emergency first aid kit. Find out what supplies your kit should contain.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; American Academy of Family Physicians; Association for Advancement of Wound Care