1. What guidelines define a chronic, non-healing wound?
If a wound has not improved significantly in four weeks, or if it has not healed completely in eight weeks, it is considered a chronic, non-healing wound.

2. What are the causes of chronic wounds?
Diabetes, immobilization and circulatory problems contribute to the majority of chronic, non-healing wounds. Approximately 1.5 million people with non-healing wounds have diabetes. Another 2.5 million patients have pressure ulcers, a common side effect of spinal cord injury, arthritis and other conditions that require a patient to be bedridden. Persons suffering from circulatory problems account for another half million patients. The rest have wounds that result from traumatic injury, non-healing surgical incisions, and a variety of other diseases.

3. How many people have chronic, non-healing wounds?
It is estimated that nearly 5 million Americans suffer from chronic wounds.

4. Why is a special center necessary for treating wounds?
Patients who have non-healing wounds require specialized and aggressive care. In traditional medical settings, many patients may not receive the interdisciplinary attention that these wounds require. For these people, minor lesions can unfortunately lead to chronic, non-healing wounds with serious infection, gangrene and possible amputation. Specialized care can make sure patients heal and return to their daily life activities.