St. Joseph’s comprehensive Specialty Services encompass skin and wound care, hyperbaric medicine, and infusion therapy services. You can expect to receive compassionate care from a clinical team who is well-versed in treating patients with more complex, specialized health conditions. By providing these services locally, we help to prevent patients and their loved ones from having to leave the community to receive treatment.
Specialty Services
What We Treat
Treating wounds competently and as quickly as possible is important to avoiding infection and/or re-injury. Our Wound Care Clinic offers a wide range of services, including but not limited to:
- Treatment of wounds caused by injuries, surgery, and diabetes, as well as ostomy care
- Care for common wounds, including diabetic ulcers, venous stasis ulcers and pressure ulcers, as well as the latest advancements in wound care, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- A wide range of resources for individuals with skin issues related to diabetes and/or neuropathy, which causes numbness or weakness in the hands or feet, as well as other conditions that require more aggressive treatment than is available in traditional medical settings
- Helping patients avoid complications such as chronic wounds which can sometimes lead to serious infection and even loss of limb
- Foot and nail care, especially for diabetics and those with neuropathy, which can cause numbness and weakness in the hands and feet
- Removal of suspicious growths and moles, with biopsy
- Nephrostomy tube care
- Outpatient Foley catheter changes (when a patient is not homebound)
In addition to preventive services to safeguard against skin wounds or slow down their progression, we can provide a seamless transition to more advanced wound care, if necessary, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skin grafting, orthotics and more.
What to Expect
While every patient is unique, we’ve developed an approach that helps to ensure patients make the most progress possible as quickly as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
- A genuinely caring and compassionate team of specially trained wound care RNs/MA’s and physicians, along with trained Hyperbaric RN’s/Technicians
- Close collaboration with your specialist or primary care provider to develop an individualized plan of care
- Regular private consultations with a nurse who specializes in wound care to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to at home wound care equipment, supplies and processes
- Education about the importance of proper wound care and assistance learning how to care for your wound at home
Accessing the Center
Patients can be referred to our Skin & Wound Healing Center by their primary care provider or an advanced specialist.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) works by supplying high-pressure oxygen to the bloodstream. It helps to heal certain stubborn wounds which are very difficult to treat using conventional methods. HBOT can also be also used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness after scuba diving (“the bends”) and the after-effects of radiation therapy.
What to Expect
As part of treatment, you will be placed in a special Hyperbaric chamber for the treatment. You will be able to change position, watch TV, listen to the radio, drink water or eat ice. You will be able to see and talk with the nurse at any time.
When treatment starts, you will hear a hissing sound as oxygen goes into the chamber. You will breathe 100% oxygen while you are in the chamber. You will feel warm for a few minutes at the start of treatment. You will feel cool at the end of treatment.
You may feel pressure or squeezing in your ears, sinuses or teeth. This is due to the change in air pressure. Some things you can do to prevent this are to flex your jaw by yawning, drink water, pinch your nose or swallow. Tell the nurse if you notice pain in your ears or other areas.
Our Infusion Therapy department, which is located on the 4th Floor at St. Joseph Hospital on Broadway in Bangor, offers services to patients with rheumatological conditions, gastrointestinal conditions and multiple sclerosis who require intravenous infusion treatments on an outpatient basis. The department also offers chemotherapy services, pre/post-operative antibiotic treatments, injections of anticoagulants, blood transfusions and infusion of I.V. fluids.
Common Treatments
Common infusion therapy treatments include but are not limited to:
- Remicade for Ulcerative Colitis
- Remicade for Crohn’s Disease
- Remicade for RA
- Remicade for Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Simponi Aria
- Venofer
What to Expect
Our infusion suite is staffed by certified cancer care nurses and an on-site pharmacist to minimize the wait during treatments. Patient education is provided during treatments.
The suite is designed to make the infusion experience as comfortable as possible, allowing patients to relax in lounge chairs, watch television, read books and enjoy refreshments while receiving treatments. Each room includes a wide-screen TV and DVD/CD player with remote control for patients to enjoy while they receive their treatments. Tablet computers and complimentary guest WIFI are also available for patient use while they are in the department receiving their treatment.
Meet Our Team
Our team of skilled physicians are here to help when you need them most.