No one expects to have a wound issue or they expect that their surgeon will be ready, willing, and able to help if needed.
That becomes more difficult with out-of-town surgeries and it's been my experience that many surgeons are not wound healing experts and many give mediocre advice on product use.
Recognizing that if you do develop a wound getting care may be complicated by the choice to have surgery from an out-of-state surgeon. Insurance may deny coverage of visits after an elective procedure. It is wise to confirm options before your procedure.
Identify options available to you. For instance;
Call your insurance company and find out which clinics are in-network.
Do you need a referral from your primary?
What is your co-payment/deductible for care in a specialist office/wound center?
If you go to your primary, also ask for a referral to physical therapy. PT is not only for back, knees and shoulders, but many of us are trained in techniques to improve wounds, scars and edema.
It is not uncommon to wait up to 2-3 weeks to get into a wound care center. This time can be extremely detrimental to healing. I suggest going to urgent care if you show any signs of infection {Hot, Red, Oozing, Painful Open Wounds, Swollen Hard Skin}. Then make those calls to your insurance company and primary care to get a referral to the wound clinic and book that appointment. You can always cancel later if your wound improves.
Next Reserve your Virtual Wound Consult to get a personalized plan for healing from home. Often I find there are simple adjustments that can really improve how the wound is healing. We'll make a plan to get you through until you can get seen in-person by a local provider.
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