East Georgia Regional Medical Center's physicians, leaders and clinicians are celebrating a "Center of Distinction" award. The honor was given to the hospital's Comprehensive Wound Healing Center in recognition of its high patient satisfaction rates, healing results and positive clinical outcomes during the past 12 months.
      The medical center received the honor from its partner in wound healing, Diversified Clinical Services (DCS), the nation's leading wound care management company.
      The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center has treated and helped cure chronic or non-healing wounds and provided care to more than 2,000 patients since it opened in November 2006.
      Bob Bigley, CEO of the hospital, said: "DCS brings our hospital's Wound Care Center enormous resources and expertise, enabling us to meet the increasing need for specialized wound care. We are thrilled to accept these awards, and proud to offer this quality center to our community."
      The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center provides specialized treatments to the Statesboro area and surrounding counties. Associated with inadequate circulation, poorly functioning veins, and immobility, non-healing wounds occur most frequently in the elderly and in people with diabetes and other diseases-populations that are sharply rising as the nation ages and chronic diseases increase.
      Non-healing wounds of the diabetic foot are considered one of the most significant complications of diabetes. Almost 24 million Americans-one in every 12-are diabetic and the disease is causing widespread disability and death at an epidemic pace, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those with diabetes, 6.5 million are estimated to suffer with chronic or non-healing wounds.
      Services at the wound center use an interdisciplinary approach to treatment involving a variety of therapies and techniques, including debridement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), dressing selection, special shoes and patient education.
       "We're honored, "said John E. Martin, Sr., M.D., the center's medical director. "It's a privilege to be part of a great collaborative effort between the hospital and Diversified Clinical Services. Together, we are able to heal patients in our community, getting them get back to living happy, healthy lives."