Scotland Wound Healing Center, which opened last May, has received two national awards for its service to the community from National Healing Corporation (NHC), an industry leader which accounts for more than 30 percent of the nation's managed and outsourced wound healing centers.

The Wound Healing Center, which specializes in the treatment of chronic wounds and non-responsive conditions with state-of-the-art methodologies and treatments, received the New Center of the Year Award and the Front Runner Award.

ÒThe Scotland Wound Healing Center received this award because we have an extraordinarily dedicated group of ten physicians and nurses who are committed to the care of these patients,Ó General surgeon Dr. Brian Parkes, the CenterÕs Medical Director, said,

Parkes said serving as the centerÕs medical director is a great experience for him professionally.

ÒThis role has really broadened not just my horizon, but that of all of our physicians and staff. We all feel better as we see a wound start to heal and patients getting better. IÕm very gratified that our doctors have really gotten behind this service. No single physician could have made this Center the success it is. We learn from each other, which makes us all smarter and better doctors.Ó

The physicians in the Wound Healing Center represent a variety of medical specialties, including: Doctors Steve Lanuti and Brian Parkes, general surgeons; Doctors Ralph Carter, Paul Rush, and John Smid, orthopedic surgeons; Doctors John Neal and Taneka Williams, family medicine physicians; Dr. Patrick Ricotta, podiatrist; Dr. Brad Bethel, internal medicine; and Dr. Harvey Kohn, ob/gyn. ÒThis is whatÕs so great about our Center,Ó Dr. Parkes stated. ÒWe can optimize the medical management of many of our cases. We donÕt provide primary care, but we do work with the primary care doctors of our patients.Ó

Patients come from a wide area around Scotland County. ÒPatients with really complicated leg, abdomen, breast, and head wounds are now healed, thanks to the Wound Healing Center,Ó continued Dr. Parkes. My worse case was a patient whose foot was a huge sore with infection in the underlying bone. Through continuous wound care and coordinating surgery with the patientÕs orthopedic surgeon, we prevented an amputation below the knee. The wound is almost completely healed and the patient will be walking on that foot again soon.Ó

Dr. Ralph Carter, orthopedic surgeon, has treated a patient with a serious chest wound from radiation received years ago. ÒThe collarbone was infected and bone was exposed,Ó Dr. Parkes continued. ÒDr. Carter and I worked on this patient, debriding the wound and providing treatment in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The wound is now forming a great bed of scar tissue and as soon as a skin graft is done, the patient will be in great shape.Ó

NHC Chief Operating Officer James M. Tyler presented the New Center of the Year Award to program director Paula Davis and Clinical Nurse Manager Terri Nance, saying, "So much goes on behind the scenes in opening a new wound healing center to make sure that patients receive absolute top quality care from day one. The physicians and entire team at the Scotland Wound Healing Center were tireless in their efforts and unwavering in their dedication to bring leading edge wound care to their community.Ó

The Scotland Wound Healing Center specializes in the treatment of chronic wounds and non-responsive conditions. Hospital-based outpatient wound care is offered as well as disease management and diabetes care. The Center offers leading edge therapies including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the use of vascular studies, tissue culturing and pathology, revascularization, skin grafting and clinical or surgical debridement. Likely candidates for treatment are those suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, compromised skin grafts and flaps, and wounds that haven't healed within 30 days. Self referrals are accepted.

Scotland Wound Healing Center is located at 500 Lauchwood Drive, in the Community Health and Rehabilitation Center.