Medical director of St. Joseph’s Highland wound center receives top board credential
PHOTO: Dr. Jose Diaz, left, medical director of the Wound Care Center at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, recently received the highest level of credential for a physician in wound care. Shown with him is Ann Essington, HBO safety director
From Illinois Business Journal news services
HIGHLAND – Dr. Jose Diaz Jr., medical director of the Wound Care Center at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, recently received the highest level of credential for a physician in wound care.
The American Board of Wound Medicine and Surgery awarded Diaz the title of Diplomate of the ABWMS in January after passing the ABWMS exam.
“We feel so privileged and honored to have a physician of Dr. Diaz’s caliber leading our Wound Care Center,” said Elizabeth Govero, interim president and chief executive officer at St. Joseph’s. “Dr. Diaz brings the highest level of care to our patients and is seeing tremendous healing rates through those practices.”
The St. Joseph’s Hospital Wound Care Center provides specialized treatment for chronic or non-healing wounds, with a healing rate of 98 percent within 28 days for patients. The work of specially trained wound care physicians allows Healogics Wound Care Centers to treat a variety of chronic wounds, from ulcers to bone damage to infections to burns.
Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.7 million people in the United States, and these wounds cost more than $50 billion annually. If left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to a diminished quality of life and possible amputation of the affected limb.
“Our hospital has made tremendous strides over the last several years to make sure our community has the best possible health care available,” Diaz said. “We want the public to know that when they come to our wound care center they are getting the most up to date advanced therapies available.”
All services in the Wound Care Center are provided by Diaz, Dr. Janet Alvarado, and Dori Duckworth, ACNP-BC.
For more information about wound healing, contact the Wound Care Center at St Joseph’s Highland at (618) 651-2502.
