In 1908, twenty-six Putnam County female citizens started what would be the founding of a hospital to serve their family and friends. The hospital would offer solutions to their ever-changing healthcare needs, and would bring technologies only previously offered in larger cities to their rural community.

The team at Putnam County Hospital (PCH) provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies to the residents in Putnam County. Today, over 100 years later, one program in particular is a continuation of its founding females’ goal of bringing the latest in technologies to the hospital:  Wound Care.

Wound care at PCH is a comprehensive team approach using the latest technology including treatment, nutrition, labs, radiology, surgical, and AOI services. With the newest technology and the vast experience of treating wounds, Putnam County Hospital Rehabilitation can treat the residents of the community locally without the need to travel to Indianapolis.

The PCH Team provides Wound Care Services that include but not limited to compression, specialty wound care treatments, swelling relief, education, debridement and modalities. The functional piece of the program is the continued monitoring and guidance with the specialty dressings used.

Wound Care services are so important to speed the healing of the wound and educate the patient from the wound returning in the future. The impact is better healing at a faster rate and return to prior function so they can return to a better life.

Terry Schaefer, PTA, WCC, CLT, CEAS, CCI, COF is no stranger to the current and innovative treatment with complex open wounds. Having spent 30 years treating wounds, he has learned the importance of using the most advanced equipment as Qoustic Ultrasound Machine. Terry is very passionate about the treatment of wounds and its possibilities for healing. He strives to help his patients to achieve their goals of healing and his varied background provides the perfect foundation for helping to achieve those treatment goals.

“Our goal is to speed healing in the best manner with the less impact on patient’s life.”

If one were to walk into the PCH gym, you would see a caring environment with lots of education about wound and wound healing and our team answering all patient questions. Treatment plans for wounds vary depending on the level of care needed. A typical plan would include treatment 2- 3 times per week for about 8 weeks.

Many patients do not understand the complexity of a wound, the way it affects their lifestyle, or the treatments that are available for them. As a clinician, the Wound Care Program has made Terry realize the varied degree of patient understanding and involvement with their wound care prior to treatment.

Our partner, Putnam County Hospital, knows for a fact that patients are getting the best wound care with the best equipment and technologies in Putnam county. It’s not uncommon for hospital employees to give referrals to patients.  “Go see Terry!”

Putnam County Hospital is a critical access hospital committed to providing affordable, high-quality healthcare close to home. For more information about Putnam County Hospital and the expanded services and specialties now being provided, please visit www.pchosp.org.