When the wound does not heal: Who should I contact?
A chronic wound often raises more questions than expected at first. Suddenly, it is no longer just about the open area itself. The wound needs regular care, the cause must be clarified, and the next steps should be coordinated.
Several healthcare professionals may be involved: your GP, SpitexCare, the Rodday Wound Spitex or, if needed, other specialists. For those affected, it is not always easy to keep track of who is responsible for what. That is why we explain who you can contact, which role each professional takes on and how a professional wound assessment typically works.
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Who should you see first if you have a wound that won't heal?
Normally, your primary care physician is the first point of contact. They are familiar with your medical history, existing conditions, and medications. This overall picture is particularly important when it comes to chronic wounds.
However, patients or their family members can also contact a specialized wound care home care service directly. This is particularly advisable if care is to be provided at home. In this case, the specialists will consult with the primary care physician to ensure that the care remains medically coordinated.
When making initial contact, patients do not need to know any technical terms. Simple details are important: How long has the wound been present? Where is it located? Is it painful? Has it already been treated? It is sufficient to describe the wound as you experience it in everyday life.
What roles do the family doctor, SpitexCare, and Rodday-Wundspitex play?
The primary care physician generally maintains formal leadership. They bear medical responsibility, prescribe treatment, and are kept informed of important decisions, changes, and the patient’s progress. Our wound care specialists therefore do not work independently of the physician but coordinate with them.
Rodday’s wound care specialists make up our specialized home wound care team. They visit the patient at home, conduct a professional assessment of the wound, and evaluate the overall situation. This includes, for example, the duration of the wound, previous treatments, pain, underlying medical conditions, medications, and how care can be managed at home.
After the initial assessment, our home wound care team discusses their findings with the primary care physician. Together, they determine how the wound will be managed moving forward. Depending on the situation, the home wound care team may also take over ongoing treatment at home. In many cases, the wound care specialists handle the majority of the wound care. Depending on the setting, standard Spitex services, as well as those provided by SpitexCare or other partners, may also be involved.
SpitexCare acts as a coordinatorbetween the patient, the primary care physician, and the wound care specialists. SpitexCare helps ensure that care is effectively implemented in everyday life. When patients, family members, or doctors contact SpitexCare, SpitexCare can handle the initial visit. If a Rodday specialist is not present at that time, the Rodday wound care team receives the necessary information to conduct a professional assessment of the wound.
This way, the primary care physician, SpitexCare, and Rodday wound care specialists do not work in isolation from one another. They coordinate continuously and tailor care to the individual’s specific situation.
When is specialized wound care needed?
Specialized wound care consultation is recommended as soon as a wound is not healing as expected. Those affected should not wait until the wound gets larger or until several treatments have been tried without success.
Wound care specialists should be consulted especially if the wound has remained open for an extended period, is not getting smaller despite treatment, or continues to cause discomfort. Even if it’s unclear why healing has stalled, a professional assessment is worthwhile. Especially in the early stages, wound care home visits serve as a guide: What type of care is appropriate? Are different materials needed? Does the area need to be relieved of pressure? Do underlying medical conditions play a role? Specialized wound care consultation helps clarify these questions early on and plan further treatment in a targeted manner.
How does a professional wound assessment work?
A professional wound assessment begins with a close examination of the wound and the affected person’s living situation. The Wundspitex team, consisting of our wound care experts, takes the time to understand how long the wound has been present, what treatments have been tried so far, and what difficulties arise in daily life.
This isn’t just about the wound itself. Information about daily life is also important: Does the person put pressure on the wound when walking, sitting, or lying down? Is there pain? What medications are they taking? What underlying medical conditions are involved? And how can treatment be planned so that it works well at home?
After the initial assessment, Wundspitex consults with the primary care physician. They describe their assessment and suggest the next steps. If the physician agrees with the proposed treatment plan, the specialists implement the treatment at an appropriate frequency—which may include visits several times a week.
If the wound does not heal as expected, the team responds collaboratively. The wound care specialists inform the doctor of any positive, negative, or stagnant progress. This allows the treatment to be adjusted before valuable time is lost.
Don’t keep trying on your Own
A chronic wound doesn’t require endless trial and error at home—it needs a clear assessment. Anyone who is unsure or notices that a wound isn’t healing should seek professional help early on.
The right path may lead through various points of contact. The important thing is to take the first step. After that, the primary care physician, SpitexCare, and wound care specialists can jointly assess the situation and coordinate care.
