Program Spotlight : Wound Care

Patients often come to Clearwater Free Clinic (CFC) with chronic venous stasis* wounds, acute skin infections, or for wound care following an ER visit or hospitalization. These patients typically require dressing changes or close infection monitoring. CFC staff and volunteers are able to provide them with wound care and essential medications that they would not be able to afford without the help of donated supplies and funds.  

Due to the number of follow-ups, these patients are typically followed by the clinic's Nurse Practitioners. We also have volunteer and staff nurses who have wound care experience and can help with dressing changes. When patients are not responding to measures and treatments available in the Clinic, we are often able to place them in the care of one of our community partners. 

Patients can benefit from more advanced wound care initiatives such as wound debridement** and customized wound covering because of BayCare Financial Support and the generosity of physician partners like Dr. Rodriguez. Another CFC community partner, Bardmoor Outpatient Rehabilitation, gives patients access to the lymphedema clinic, which offers therapies to encourage lymph circulation and teaches them how to correctly wrap their legs. 

The Clinic is able to provide fully comprehensive care to its patients with specialized programs such as the wound care program and many more thanks to the generous gifts made by our donors. 

*An inflammation of the skin in the lower legs as a result of chronic venous insufficiency

**When a doctor removes dead tissue from a wound