A wound care center is an outpatient clinic that treats wounds that are slow to heal, such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, venous leg ulcers, and surgical wounds that will not close. Many patients are referred after a wound shows little progress over several weeks despite regular care.

Wound care teams often include physicians, nurses, and other specialists who address the underlying causes of poor healing, such as circulation, infection, and pressure.

Common Reasons for Referral

• Diabetic foot ulcers or sores that are not improving.
• Leg ulcers related to circulation problems.
• Pressure injuries, sometimes called bedsores.
• Surgical wounds that reopen or heal slowly.
• Radiation-related skin injuries.

Seek urgent care for signs of infection, such as spreading redness, warmth, swelling, fever, foul odor, or increasing pain.

Treatments Patients May Receive

Treatment plans often include cleaning and removing unhealthy tissue, specialized dressings, compression for certain leg ulcers, off-loading pressure from the foot, managing blood sugar, and treating infection. Some centers offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which patients breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber; it is used for specific approved conditions, not every wound.

Healing also depends on nutrition, smoking cessation, and managing chronic conditions. Wound care teams often coordinate with primary care doctors and specialists.

Supporting Healing at Home

Follow dressing instructions exactly, keep wounds clean, and attend every scheduled visit. Eating enough protein, staying hydrated, managing blood sugar, and avoiding smoking can all support healing. If the care plan includes off-loading devices or compression, wear them as directed even when they feel inconvenient.

Keep a simple log of wound changes, pain levels, and questions for the next appointment. Photos can help, if your care team recommends them.

Ask how to reach the care team between visits if questions or new symptoms come up.

Preparing for a First Visit

Bring a list of medications, medical history, insurance information, and notes about how long the wound has been present and what treatments have been tried. Wear clothing that allows easy access to the wound. Ask about visit frequency and home care instructions.

Go Editors’ wound care and healthcare listings help patients locate centers nearby; check referral rules and coverage for advanced therapies. Check whether a referral is required and confirm insurance coverage, especially for advanced therapies.

Do Not Wait on a Wound That Will Not Heal

Wound care centers treat chronic and complex wounds by addressing circulation, pressure, infection, and overall health. Seek urgent care for infection signs, ask how therapies like hyperbaric oxygen apply to your case, and prepare a full history for the first visit. Go Editors can help you find wound care providers.