It’s Time to Heal

The Tulsa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at OSU Medical Center specializes in wounds that won't heal due to diabetes, circulation problems, pressure (bed sores), trauma or surgery.

Tulsa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center staff pictured with a ­hyperbaric chamber: (L to R) Lori Ormsby, Director of the Wound Program; Kathy Kelley, HBO Supervisor; and Tricia Sheehy, Manager.

For those with chronic, non-healing wounds, their lives can become consumed with pain, loss of mobility and fears of amputation. The Tulsa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at OSU Medical Center is Oklahoma’s leading wound care center and specializes in wounds that won’t heal due to diabetes, circulation problems, pressure (bed sores), trauma or surgery. They say, the time to heal is now.

With its many recent renovations and expansion to double its current size, the Tulsa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center (TWCC) can better serve more patients in the surrounding region. Eric Blackwell, D.O., Medical Director of TWCC and OSUMC Chief of Staff, explains, “We offer the latest in state-of-the-art wound care to our patients. And, our more spacious waiting area, complete with an extra-large flat screen TV and new, comfortable furniture and surroundings, are a few of the reasons why we are a center of excellence and are known as the leading wound care center in the region.”

One question often asked is, “What is a hyperbaric chamber?” Blackwell explains, “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to move oxygen further into healing tissues. Patients are placed into a chamber with 100 percent oxygen and pressurized to the same pressures of a deep sea dive. The breathing of pure oxygen at two to three times normal pressure delivers 15 times as much oxygen to tissues as breathing room air. This promotes formation of new capillaries into wound areas and helps the body to heal more rapidly than it would without the chamber. Also, swelling is reduced and cell membranes are stabilized.”

Often times, when a wound is healed, it saves more than a limb – sometimes it’s a life. “Wounds have been around since the beginning of time. Over the centuries, remedies have ranged from cobwebs to tar pitch – even soaks in Tide detergent,” shared Lori Ormsby, MS, APN, Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist and Director of the wound center. “We’ve come a long way in wound care, and we still are learning. Wound care is a new and growing specialty in medicine.”

Lori Ormsby, Director; Jessica Franklin, LPN; Eric Blackwell, D.O., TWCC Medical Director and OSU Medical Center Chief of Staff; and Rita Tripplehorn, RN.

At TWCC, our staff knows patients require compassionate care, expertise and the latest technology in advanced wound care products. “We have all that and the best collaborative team around,” Ormsby explained. Working with Blackwell and Ormsby are Laurie Duckett, D.O., Brian Diener, D.O., Paul Rock, D.O., and Michael Whitworth, D.O. “Specially trained wound nurses, diabetes educators, case managers, clinical dietitians, interventional radiologists and infectious disease physicians work together to find a treatment protocol to best benefit each patient.

“In most cases, even the best primary care physicians are not set up to handle wound care in their offices. We work collaboratively with referring physicians to diagnose and effectively treat their patient’s wounds,” Blackwell explained. “Each patient receives individualized, aggressive wound treatment to stimulate healing and get patients back on their feet.”

Now that the TWCC at OSUMC has doubled its capacity for patients, same-day appointments often are available. “Since TWCC is an out-patient service, located within OSUMC, we have all the ancillary services such as lab, X-ray, MRI, CT Scan, specialty practices and services at our fingertips. The patient does not have to go from one facility to the next,” Ormsby added.  

Dr. Blackwell said, “TWCC is cutting-edge. From bio-engineered skin equivalents to high-tech wound dressing, it’s all about providing excellent wound care to our patients, and we enjoy educating the patient and their family during the process.”

For the OSUMC team, seeing patients’ wounds heal and their pain subside is gratifying every time. “We all work together to heal the wound, which begins to heal the person. When that occurs, quality of life returns and that’s our goal for every patient,” Ormsby added.  

For more information about the Tulsa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, please call (918) 599-5874 or toll free at (877) 599-5715.

For more information, contact

OSU Medical Center

(918) 599-5874