When should a wound be seen urgently instead?

Go to urgent care or the emergency department if bleeding will not stop, if you can see deep tissue, bone or muscle, if there is numbness or loss of movement, or if the wound is from an animal or human bite. In an emergency, call 911.

Why is my bruising spreading?

Bruising often spreads and changes colour over the first week, especially if you take a blood thinner. A bruise that keeps growing, becomes very firm and painful, or comes with new swelling should be checked promptly.

Can a nurse take out my stitches?

Only if your provider has ordered it and included it in your plan of care. Otherwise, removal happens at your provider’s office as scheduled.

How do we keep it from happening again?

Most trauma wounds in older adults come from falls. We look at trip hazards, lighting, footwear and any walking aids, and talk with your provider about a falls risk review.

Service

Trauma wounds and lacerations: home wound care

Trauma wounds are injuries from a fall, a cut, a bump or a crash. After the initial treatment, some need continued wound care at home — especially if you cannot easily get to a clinic.

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What it is

Trauma wounds range from a simple laceration to a bruise that turns into an open wound, a road rash, or an injury with stitches, staples or a drain. Older adults and people on blood thinners often bruise and bleed more than expected.

Once the urgent care is done, the follow-up is about keeping the wound clean, changing dressings on schedule and noticing early signs of infection or poor healing.

Who this is for

People sent home from the emergency department or hospital with a wound to dress
Older adults after a fall, particularly those on blood thinners
Anyone with a wound that cannot easily travel to a clinic for dressing changes
Patients with stitches, staples or a drain who need the wound checked regularly

What a visit looks like

Review the injuryWe go through your discharge paperwork and the wound care instructions you were given.
Assess the woundWe check the edges, drainage, bruising and the skin around the injury.
Clean and dressThe wound is cleaned and dressed with the products your provider ordered.
Look at the whole pictureWe check how you are moving and whether swelling or bruising is changing.
Escalate when neededIf something does not look right, we contact your provider rather than waiting for the next appointment.

Questions about trauma wounds

Does trauma wounds care at home need a doctor's order?

Yes. In Florida, home wound care requires an order from a physician or another licensed provider who is treating you. We ask for that order before the first visit.

Clinically reviewed by [ADD REVIEWER NAME + CREDENTIALS, e.g. J. Smith, RN, BSN] on [ADD REVIEW DATE]

Where we provide this care

This service is available across our three-county service area in Northwest Florida.

Other wound care services

Many patients need more than one type of wound care. These are the other wounds we treat at home.

Ready to start? Call us or send a referral.

We answer questions about coverage and physician orders before you commit to anything.

Call 850-940-4325 Refer a Patient

Phone: 850-940-4325
Fax referrals: 833-636-4600
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Leave a message after hours and we will call you back.