A support group for open-heart surgery patients and survivors known as ‘The Zipper Club’ had the opportunity last Thursday, September 19th, to listen to a presentation on the advancements in wound healing at their meeting in the Educational Center at Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital.
‘The Zipper Club’ was created by The American Heart Association for open-heart and other cardiac surgery patients and is nationally recognized for offering support and education to patients who have had or will have open-heart surgery. A branch of the group was established and supported by The Heart Institute of Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital.
The Altoona Bon Secours Chapter started in November 2001. There are approximately 110 members at Bon Secours and they hold meetings at the hospital every other month. Along with ‘The Zipper Club’s’ many activities such as visiting patients before and after surgery to offer guidance, they give advice on health, diet and exercise after a heart related surgery.
Last Thursday, ‘The Zipper Club’ of Bon Secours heard a presentation on ‘Advancements in Wound Care’ which was presented by Mary Ellen Glass, RN. Glass is a nurse and an account executive for Kinetic Concepts Inc. (KCI).
In March, Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital dedicated its new ‘Vascular and Wound Care Clinic,’ where a highly trained, highly skilled team of dedicated professionals treat people in our community for wounds that have resisted healing.
The hospital has established an impressive record of healing wounds – treating 3200 patients over the past five years with a program stressing common sense medical and surgical care, combined with the most advanced wound care technologies.
Glass, RN spoke to ‘The Zipper Club’ about KCI’s newest and most advanced wound care system, ‘Vacuum Assisted Closure,’ with its product being the ‘wound vac.’
“This is an advanced wound healing system done through sub-atmospheric pressure,” said Glass. “It’s pulling circulation to the wound site and healing wounds closed, which is fifty percent faster than standard wound care.”
Glass travels around the area presenting items like the ‘wound vac’ to different groups of people, such as nurses, doctors and anyone who has to deal with wound related issues. The people of ‘The Zipper Club’ were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn about this medical advancement.
President of ‘The Zipper Club,’ Denny Anna, who also is an open-heart surgery survivor, was elated that he and his fellow members had the chance to listen to Glass’s presentation.
“People get interested because they might have the problem or know somebody that does,” said Anna. “You can only give support for so long; this gives you a well-rounded view on what’s going on in the medical field. Physicians are often busy and don’t always have the time to answer questions that we might have.”
‘The Zipper Club’ is an intriguing group of people who on a daily basis make every effort to reach out to people who are open-heart surgery patients and survivors. Anna said that they can only appreciate it when someone else outside their group is willing to come in and offer knowledge and help, like Glass has done.
Glass stated, “That group (The Zipper Club) was phenomenal. They were very interested and at full attention and that’s the whole thing, people need to know these advancements in wound care are out there.”
She continued, “With the help of the physicians and the ‘wound vac,’ the patients heal much faster than standard. It’s covered by insurance in most instances in the home and they have the therapy in the hospital.”
Wound healing directly affects the people involved in ‘The Zipper Club,’ which provides no questions to why the group paid close attention. Glass will be returning for the November 21st meeting of ‘The Zipper Club’ to further go into depth about wound care.
“It’s near and dear to our hearts, and it’s really important to me that people find out what’s available for them,” said Glass.
‘The Zipper Club’ meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on November 21st in the Educational Center at Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital in Altoona. If a person has a wound that won’t heal, or knows of someone who does, feel free to attend November’s meeting or contact: Mary Ellen Glass, RN, 138 Lovell Avenue, Ebensburg, PA 15931.
A patient’s medical history, an accompanying illness or improper wound management away from the hospital can all lead to wounds that resist healing for a significant amount of time.
For information about ‘The Zipper Club’ call The Heart Institute at Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital at 814-949-0937. Ask for Terri Colabove. Anyone may join to support open-heart surgery patients and survivors.
