Wound Care

The Bozeman Health Wound and Hyperbaric Center provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services focused on the evaluation, treatment and management of complex wounds. Our multidisciplinary team specializes in promoting wound healing associated with a range of conditions, including diabetes, vascular compromise (venous/lymphatic/arterial), pressure injuries, burns, traumatic wounds and post-surgical complications.

Our treatment offerings include, but are not limited to: diabetic foot and nail care, wound debridement, compression therapy, advanced dressings/skin cell substitutes, infection control, ostomy cares and specialized treatments such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

Diabetic Foot & Nail Care

We provide comprehensive preventative foot and nail care services for individuals with diabetes, with a focus on reducing the risk of complications such as foot ulcers. Our team supports patients in coordinating care with their Primary Care Provider or Endocrinologist to obtain medically necessary diabetic footwear or custom orthotics.

We maintain close collaboration with local orthotic and prosthetic clinics in Bozeman to ensure timely access to specialty products tailored to each patient’s needs.

Patients receiving routine nail care are typically seen at the Wound Clinic every 9 to 10 weeks. This consistent follow-up schedule allows for early identification of potential issues and helps ensure that feet remain healthy and free of wounds.

Ostomy

We offer expert ostomy care provided by a Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse Practitioner in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Our Ostomy Care Team provides comprehensive support beginning prior to surgery. Preoperative ostomy site marking and patient education are performed to ensure optimal placement of the ostomy, which helps minimize postoperative complications and improves patient outcomes.

Following surgery, a wound care registered nurse (RN) will visit the patient in the hospital to provide continued education and support. For patients discharging with home health, our wound RN coordinates with the designated home health agency to ensure seamless care.

Upon discharge, we schedule follow-up appointments with our Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse Practitioner. This visit is designed to equip patients with the necessary knowledge, skills, and supplies to manage their ostomy confidently and successfully at home.

HBOT/Hyperbaric Medicine

The Bozeman Health Hyperbaric program is nationally accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), ensuring the highest standards of safety and care. Hyperbaric therapy is recognized by the FDA and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services for specific indications including:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy sessions are approximately two hours in duration and are typically administered Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The total number of treatments is determined by a hyperbaric-trained medical provider following an initial consultation and based on the patient’s specific clinical needs.
HBOT supports wound healing by promoting angiogenesis, thereby enhancing circulation to compromised tissues. Additionally, it reduces swelling and inflammation, and works synergistically with antibiotics to improve infection control and accelerate recovery.

Your Wound Team

Christopher Martin,
MD
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
James E Loeffelholz, MD Internal Medicine
James E Loeffelholz,
MD
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Crystal Marx, CNP NP - Family Medicine
Crystal Marx,
MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Kelly Earle,
DNP, APRN, FNP-CB, CWS
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Mara Zello, CNP Internal Medicine
Mara Zello,
FNP-C CWON
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Melissa Bowen,
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Sara Lemert,
DMSc, PA-C
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Sarah de Groot,
NP
Bozeman Health
Wound Care
Susan G Whittinghill, PA PA - Family Medicine
Susan Whittinghill,
PA-C
Bozeman Health
Wound Care

Frequently Asked Questions

For more than ten years, Bozeman Health Wound Clinic and Hyperbaric Medicine have used a hard-sided hyperbaric oxygen chamber with our patients. We frequently are asked about the difference between Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy vs “Mild” Hyperbaric Therapy.
Soft-sided or inflatable chambers do not provide the same benefit as hard-sided chambers. Ours is a hard-sided chamber that delivers 100% medical grade oxygen. Mild Therapy uses a soft inflatable chamber that delivers ambient air, which is mostly nitrogen and only 21% oxygen. The hard chamber is pressurized to a maximum of 3.0 ATA while the soft chamber only can pressurize to a max of 1.3 ATA. (Sea level is at one atmosphere of air pressure absolute or ATA.)

Chamber pressure needs to be above 1.3 ATA to kill bacteria. Pressures below that level cannot kill bacteria, and can actually promote undesirable growth of aerobic bacteria. The FDA does not recognize soft chambers as a medical device for hyperbaric oxygen treatments.

Many hard-sided chamber treatments are reimbursable by insurance companies and the federal government. Currently, there are no conditions reimbursed by insurance companies for soft chambers.
Treatments in hard-sided hyperbaric chambers are approved by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Eligible conditions include wounds compounded by diabetes, radiation tissue damages, carbon monoxide poisoning and compromised skin grafts. There is no measurable scientific evidence which backs the claims by soft chambers to cure fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sinusitis or other conditions.
Yes. They were initially designed to deliver temporary treatment to mountain climbers and divers who are in route to treatment with a hard chamber.

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Take the First Steps

Your journey to recovery begins at Bozeman Health Spine + Joint Institute (SJI) with one of our local orthopedic partners. To request an appointment, simply click the button below and you will be contacted to schedule your next steps. If you are inquiring about spine surgery, you will need to have your primary care provider make a referral to Dr. Ben Smith with Bridger Orthopedic. Spine surgery appointments are not available through the request portal at this time.