Welcome to The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center
at Merrimack Valley Hospital

We Specialize in Healing Chronic Wounds:
If you're suffering from a non-healing wound, you're not alone. Every year, chronic wounds caused by diabetes, poor circulation or other conditions, keep millions of Americans just like you from doing things they love to do. But The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center can help you get your life back. Our unique multidisciplinary team of dedicated doctors and nurses treat more of these wounds than anyone else. Many patients find wounds that have resisted healing after months and even years of traditional treatment, can be treated. It's all we do. In fact, for most patients, The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center program leaves them completely healed in just a few months.

At any given time, almost seven million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds. Some are associated with complications from diabetes and other related vascular disorders. Other types include pressure sores and traumatic wounds. The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital uses the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and remains current in new scientific advances in wound care. The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center is a hospital-based outpatient service.

Meet Medical Director Walter Kwass, MD

As skin ulceration and non-healing wounds are common symptoms of both artery and vein disease, it often falls to the vascular surgeon in a community to manage these difficult problems as part of the overall care of vascular, diabetic, and elderly patients. Doctor Walter Kwass, Medical Director of The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital, is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and the Vascular Board of The American Board of Surgery. He earned Board Certification in Vascular Surgery in 1987 and recertification in 1997 and in 2007. His interest in the management of difficult wounds began with his vascular surgical career as a fellow at the New England Medical Center in Boston. He helped develop a prototype wound clinic at The Hospital of St. Raphael in Connecticut in the early 1990’s under the direction of his vascular team.

Special vascular testing is an important part of patient evaluation at The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital. It can help pinpoint the cause of a wound and may explain the reasons it has failed to heal with conventional treatment. Dr. Kwass is known for his expertise in vascular ultrasound and the vascular laboratory for non-invasive diagnosis. He has had experience in ultrasound scanning since 1985, including both performance and interpretation of procedures. He has been director of vascular laboratories in a number of settings and will continue this role as part of his responsibility as Medical Director.

Doctor Kwass received his A.B. from Amherst College and then attended New York University School of Medicine in New York City where he earned his M.D. degree. He completed his internship and residency in Surgery and a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. After Boston and a two-year tour of duty in the Navy, Doctor Kwass moved to New Haven, Connecticut to begin a thirty-three year career in vascular surgery. He returned to Massachusetts in January 2009 to practice at Merrimack Valley Hospital, which had been without vascular services for several years.

At the Hospital of St Raphael in New Haven, in addition to his busy practice, Doctor Kwass worked as Quality Assurance Coordinator for the Department of Surgery from 1989 to 1997. He then became Chief of Vascular Surgery in 1998. He also held the title of Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery from 1977 to 2002 at the Yale University School of Medicine. He organized the vascular teaching program for surgical residents at the Hospital of Saint Raphael and was elected Attending of the Year by the surgical residents there in 2000.  

Who Needs Wound Care
There are a variety of circumstances in which a person may need specialized wound care. They include, but are not limited to:
• Wounds caused by circulatory problems (e.g. arterial ulcers)
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Venous stasis ulcers (as a result of improper functioning of valves in the veins usually of the legs)
• Pressure sores (bed sores)
• Burns
• Non-healing surgical wounds
• Post-radiation wounds

When Should I Consider Using the Wound Care Center?
If you have a sore or wound that has not started to get significantly better in a month, or has not healed entirely in two months, you should ask your doctor about The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital.

An Experienced Team:
Patients referred to our Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center program benefit from a physician driven, comprehensive interdisciplinary approach. Integrating a team of wound care professionals increases the level of care, improves patients compliance and clinical outcomes.

Your First Visit:
When you come in, our staff will evaluate your wound and general health. They'll also review your medical history. A blood test may be involved. You may also need special tests that give us information about blood flow and oxygen flow in the wound area.

Your Healing Program:
When your test results are in, we'll put together a treatment program based on your special needs. This program will include regular visits to The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center to provide treatment, evaluate progress and make any changes that might be needed. You (or your caregiver) will be given detailed instructions in home care, dressing (bandage) changes and protecting the wound from further injury.

The Team-Approach to Treatment:
A variety of treatment options are available depending on type and severity of a wound. Treatment may include the following:
• Infectious disease management
• Physical therapy
• Vascular evaluation
• Laboratory evaluation
• Nutritional management
• Pain management
• Diabetic education
• Nuclear medicine
• Radiology
• Debridement (Removal of non-viable tissue from a wound)
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):
The Hyperbaric Chambers are a part of our Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center's healing tools. These non- invasive clear acrylic chambers provide 100% oxygen to promote the optimum healing opportunity. While breathing pure oxygen, the patient's blood plasma becomes saturated, carrying 20 to 30 times the normal amount of oxygen to the body's tissue. The ultimate result is the body's natural wound healing mechanisms (which are oxygen dependent) are able to function more efficiently. Continued use of HBOT increases the body's immune and healing response. Our Certified Hyperbaric Technician will educate you with the knowledge to complete this therapy program with the best results. Each hyperbaric chamber has its own TV/VCR and CD player for patients to watch movies or listen to music during treatment. The completely transparent chambers allow patients to see and be seen by the Hyperbaric Technician.

Conditions That May Benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
• Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity (foot and ankle ulcers)
• Wounds that have not healed in several weeks
• Post-radiation tissue injury
• Crush injuries
• Wounds caused by poor circulation or trauma
• Compromised grafts and flaps
• Gangrene
• Pressure ulcers
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections (death of tissue resulting from loss of blood supply, corrosion, burning, or a local lesion of a disease).

You're a Vital Part of the Program:
Much of the success of your treatment depends on you. You must keep your appointments, follow directions carefully and watch your progress closely between visits. And any time you or your family members have questions, our staff is available. In fact, we encourage you to ask questions.

How We Work With Your Doctor:
The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital works with your personal doctor, just like any other medical specialist. We'll discuss your treatment program with your doctor and keep him or her updated on your progress, unless instructed otherwise. Remember, you'll need to keep seeing your doctor for routine medical care.

Insurance Coverage:
Most often Medicare and Medicaid reimburse for approved procedures. Many health plans cover wound care treatment. We will call to obtain insurance coverage before we begin treatment as coverage depends on a patient's specific plan. Patients are asked to bring their insurance cards with you when visiting the center.

For More Information:
If you or anyone you know is suffering from a non-healing, chronic wound, please call The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital. We are happy to answer any of your questions and set up a tour of our state-of-the-art facility located on the third floor of the hospital.

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Merrimack Valley Hospital, 140 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill, MA 01830. For more information please call 978-420-1405.

 Wound Care Center Express Referral Form