Physician assistant Cally Richardson, PA-C, entered wound care as an ode to her grandfather, who had diabetes and non-healing wounds.

Her colleague, Tara Lorenzo, RN, was drawn to the profession during nursing school and later as a home health nurse.

The pair leads the team at St. Luke’s newest Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center in Lehighton, which opened May 30.

The center, which relocated to the St. Luke’s Hospital – Lehighton Campus from its previous location at 525 Iron Street, Lehighton, offers expert treatment for patients suffering from non-healing wounds that show no sign of improvement after 30 days of standard care.

Common wounds treated include diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries such as bed sores, non-healing surgical incisions, traumatic wounds and venous and arterial ulcers. They also provide ostomy care.

“I love wound care,” Lorenzo said. “Often, when patients start with us, they have a large open wound, and you can heal them. It’s very gratifying.”

In addition to Richardson and Lorenzo, the Lehighton team consists of a podiatric surgeon, a team of nurses trained in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, including one who has completed courses specifically in HBO and safety, and another certified in wound and ostomy care.

“We form a close bond with patients from seeing them weekly for months,” Lorenzo said. “Sometimes, healed patients return to say hi and check-in. It’s nice to see how well they are doing.”

Richardson added that patients receiving HBO therapy receive five weekly treatments for up to two months.

“They become almost like our family when they’re with us, so it’s nice.”

A member of her own family – her grandfather – introduced Richardson to wound care.

“My grandfather suffered from diabetes,” she said.

“He had peripheral neuropathy, which is essentially a complication of diabetes where a lot of the time the person can’t feel their feet or legs. They end up going numb, which leaves patients more susceptible to ulcers. Unfortunately, my grandpa had a diabetic foot ulcer that got infected. It ended up being gangrenous, and that contributed to his death. So, I felt it was a nice ode to him – in a sense, to work with similar patients to give back for everything he gave me. I felt wound care would be a good fit for me.”

Lorenzo loved science in high school. After graduating, she began working as a nurse’s aide at a nursing home. While a mother of two young children, she started nursing school while continuing to work.

“So, it took me a little longer than the traditional student,” she said. “It was challenging, but it forced me to become the nurse I am today. During nursing school, I gravitated to the patients with wounds. When a job opened at the Bethlehem Wound Care Center seven years ago, I applied for it and was hired.”

She transferred to the Lehighton Center about two years ago. Lorenzo, a Lehighton resident, is thrilled to work in the new center, which is about two minutes from home.

The Lehighton Center is one of eight St. Luke’s Wound Care & Hyperbaric Centers, including one in Tamaqua. Four of the centers offer HBO. As a result, patients can be seen within a week or even sooner if they’re willing to travel to another center if needed.

The center accepts Medicare Part B, Medicaid and most major insurance plans.

Services offered include:

• Advanced wound dressing

• Compression therapy

• Biological skin applications

• Surgical and non-surgical debridement

• Negative pressure wound therapy

• “Offloading” to relieve pressure on the wound

• HBO therapy

While receiving HBO therapy, the patient lies in a clear acrylic chamber filled with pressurized oxygen while they nap, watch TV or listen to music.

Richardson explained that HBO therapy combines 100% oxygen you breathe with pressure.

“Essentially, it allows oxygen to be diffused to the tissues much further than just the capillaries,” she said. “It also helps reestablish a new blood supply by growing new vessels and helps fight infections. So, there are multiple different mechanisms where it helps the wounds heal.”

To schedule an appointment, call 484-526-5585.