Thompson Enhances Its Wound Care Services
According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic wounds impact quality of life for almost 2.5% of Americans. Given the aging population, growing rates of diabetes and other factors, experts anticipate chronic wounds will continue to be a burgeoning need.
Within Thompson, efforts to respond to this need are expanding with specialized wound care provided by Dr. Suzamie Jo Farnsworth and designed to shorten the time to heal, decrease the possibility of infection, and decrease pain.
Located in our hospital’s Marilyn Sands Outpatient Clinic since late November, her wound care practice focuses on the treatment of:
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Non-healing surgical wounds
- Traumatic injuries
- Abscesses
- Skin tears
- Hidradenitis
- Venous ulcers
- Arterial ulcers
Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Farnsworth has provided wound care as a hospitalist at F.F. Thompson Hospital and elsewhere, and in the primary care setting at our Canandaigua Medical Group.
Prior to joining Thompson in 2020, she worked for many years as the Medical Director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic. It was as a hospitalist in Ohio – just after completing her training – that she first saw the benefits of wound care while working on a long-term acute care floor. Upon returning to her home state of New York, she advocated for expanded wound care offerings.
With her internal medicine background, Dr. Farnsworth emphasizes education for prevention and early detection of infection in order to avoid hospitalizations or surgeries. She develops relationships with her patients and at times views herself as an extension of their primary care providers because she discusses things like diet, diabetes management, blood pressure management, and medications that might worsen swelling.
Her work at the outpatient clinic complements additional wound care services within the health system.
For example, at its South Main Street location in Canandaigua, Thompson Health Rehabilitation Services offers advanced healing therapies from wound care-certified physical therapists with advanced training in the assessment and care of wounds. Their comprehensive approach is designed to speed the healing process, allowing outpatients to resume a typical lifestyle and regain their quality of life as quickly as possible.
The specially-trained physical therapists’ expertise includes:
- Diabetic/Neuropathic ulcers
- Pressure Ulcers
- Arterial Ulcers
- Venous Stasis Ulcers
- Traumatic wounds
In addition, general surgeons and vascular surgeons perform wound care procedures for patients at Thompson on a routine basis.
“A multidisciplinary approach is the best approach for wound care,” Dr. Farnsworth said. “All of us can contribute and collaborate in a way that will be beneficial to patients.”
A physician referral is required for wound care treatment from Dr. Suzamie Jo Farnsworth. For more information, call (585) 978-8264. For information about wound care from our Rehabilitation Services Department, call (585) 396-6050.