When people think about wound care, they often picture a doctor’s office or a hospital room. But for so many of my patients, wound care happens somewhere far more familiar: at home.

The truth is, most people dealing with wounds simply can’t make it into my clinic two or three times a week. Some are recovering from surgery. Some have chronic health conditions like diabetes and swollen legs, and many have trouble getting around. But wounds don’t stop needing care just because travel is difficult. They require regular attention to heal — and if they are ignored, they can lead to serious problems that might require an emergency room visit, or even an amputation.

That’s why wound care and home health services are so closely connected. In my practice at the Wound Center of Tucson, I’ve made it a priority to build systems that help people heal safely at home, without sacrificing quality of care.

It starts with a plan. Whenever I meet a patient for the first time, I begin by considering their entire medical history. Much of wound care is dependent upon controlling metabolic disease and optimizing immune function. It is critically important to develop a wound care plan tailored to that person‘s unique situation. It determines where the patient will be best treated, what type of dressings to use, how often they should be changed, if any higher level wound care is indicated, and what warning signs to look out for. This plan serves as a roadmap to help communication with our patients, their family members, their referring providers, and any home health professionals involved.

Communication is one of the most important parts of our process. If one of our nurse practitioners is treating a wound that is not healing appropriately, she will update me immediately. With a secure channel that allows encryption at both ends, she is able to send me photographs as well. I am able to adjust a treatment plan in real time. Sometimes that means scheduling a telehealth appointment. Other times, I may see that patient in the office the next day. Sometimes it may mean increasing the frequency of home visits. All of these options mean that rarely do I need to send that patient directly to the emergency department. 

That’s why I’m especially proud that the wound center of Tucson has skilled and caring nurse practitioners who travel across Tucson to provide wound care right in patients’ homes. These nurse practitioners can handle more complex wounds, perform advanced treatments, and help patients avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

Caring for wounds properly at home can make a tremendous difference. It can help people avoid trips to the emergency room, reduce healthcare costs, and spare patients the pain and stress of a festering wound or a serious infection. It also leads to better healing and a higher quality of life.

Wound healing shouldn’t stop just because someone can’t get to the office. At the Wound Center of Tucson, we’re committed to bringing the care to wherever our patients need it most — even if that’s right at home.

Call us today at (520) 319-6000 to find out how we can help you, or send an email and we’ll get right back to you.

This article appears in Jul 17-24, 2025.