What types of wounds does RML Specialty Hospital treat?

RML treats a wide range of complex and non-healing wounds including Stage III and IV pressure ulcers, diabetic wounds, surgical wounds with delayed healing or dehiscence, infected wounds involving MRSA, VRE, or osteomyelitis, wounds following major surgery (abdominal, hip, or knee), traumatic and burn-related wounds, wounds resulting from radiation therapy, collagen vascular wounds associated with autoimmune disease, bone infections, and enterocutaneous fistulas.

When does wound care require hospital-level treatment rather than outpatient care?

Wounds require hospital-level treatment when they carry a serious risk of infection — including antibiotic-resistant organisms — or when healing is complicated by multiple medical conditions such as poor nutrition, vascular disease, compromised immune function, prolonged immobility, or ongoing respiratory, neurologic, or systemic illness. In these cases, wound care cannot be safely managed in outpatient settings, rehabilitation facilities, or at home.

What is a certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (WOCN)?

A certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (WOCN) is a registered nurse with specialized training and board certification in managing complex wounds, ostomies, and continence conditions. At RML, WOCN-certified nurses lead direct wound management and work in close collaboration with physicians and the broader interdisciplinary care team to develop and monitor individualized wound care plans.

Can RML treat infected wounds including antibiotic-resistant organisms like MRSA and VRE?

Yes. RML Specialty Hospital provides hospital-level care for infected wounds including those caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms such as MRSA, VRE, and osteomyelitis. Infectious disease specialists are integrated into the wound care team to manage infection-related complications alongside the broader medical recovery plan.

How is wound care coordinated with a patient's other medical needs at RML?

At RML, wound care is addressed as part of continued hospital treatment rather than in isolation. Each patient's attending physician oversees care and coordinates wound management with other medical needs. The interdisciplinary care team includes physician assistants, WOCN nurses, registered nurses, infectious disease specialists, registered dietitians critical to wound healing, physical and occupational therapists, and pharmacists. Wound care plans are individualized and adjusted as healing progresses.

What makes wound care at RML different from a skilled nursing facility or outpatient wound center?

RML is a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), not a skilled nursing facility or outpatient center. Wound care at RML is delivered under continuous physician oversight with 24/7 on-site medical coverage — a level of medical intensity not available in SNF or outpatient settings. Patients at RML typically present with wounds that are one component of a broader, medically complex recovery requiring coordinated hospital-level treatment.

Advanced Wound Management at RML Hopsital

Some wounds carry a serious risk of infection and do not heal easily—especially when patients are recovering from critical illness, surgery, or prolonged hospitalization. When wounds are accompanied by multiple medical complications, recovery often requires close medical oversight and coordinated care in a hospital setting.

RML Specialty Hospital provides hospital-level wound care for medically complex patients who need time, stability, and specialized support as part of a broader recovery process.

When Wound Care Requires Hospital-level Care

Wounds can become medically complex when healing is affected by infection, limited mobility, compromised circulation, or underlying illness. In these situations, wound care cannot be safely managed in outpatient settings, rehabilitation facilities, or at home.

Patients may require hospital-level wound care when wounds are associated with:

A serious risk of infection, including antibiotic-resistant organisms
Multiple medical complications affecting healing and recovery
Prolonged immobility following critical illness or surgery
Poor nutrition, vascular disease, or compromised immune function
Ongoing respiratory, neurologic, or systemic medical needs

At RML, wound care is addressed as part of continued hospital treatment—not as an isolated condition.

When Wound Care Becomes Part of Complex Recovery

Wound care at RML supports patients who:

Have complex or non-healing wounds requiring close medical oversight
Are medically fragile and not ready for outpatient or rehabilitation-based wound care
Require coordinated management of wounds alongside other serious conditions
Need hospital-level monitoring to reduce complications and support healing

Patients are often transferred to RML after an ICU or acute-care hospital stay, when wounds are one part of a larger medical recovery.

How Wound Care Works at RML

Wound management at RML is led by certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCN), working in close collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary care teams experienced in medically complex recovery.

Each patient is assigned to an attending physician who oversees care throughout the hospital stay. Wound management is supported by medical supervision from board-certified physicians, ensuring treatment decisions align with the patient’s overall medical needs.

Care is delivered through collaboration among:

Physician assistants, supporting coordinated medical management
Certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurses, leading wound management
Registered nurses experienced in high-acuity hospital care
Infectious disease specialists, when wounds involve infection or resistance concerns
Registered dietitians (RDN), addressing nutritional needs critical to wound healing
Physical and occupational therapists, helping reduce pressure-related risks and improve mobility
Pharmacists, review and manage complex medication regimens

Wound care plans are individualized, closely monitored, and adjusted as healing progresses and medical conditions change. Medical oversight is continuous, with 24/7 on-site physician presence.

Types of Wounds Treated at RML

RML treats a wide range of complex and non-healing wounds, including:

Pressure ulcers (Stage III and IV)
Slow or non-healing wounds related to Diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar, long-term steroid use, or poor nutrition
Surgical wounds with delayed healing or wound dehiscence
Infected wounds, including MRSA, VRE, and osteomyelitis
Wounds following major abdominal, hip, or knee surgery

Wounds related to traumatic injury or burns
Wounds resulting from radiation therapy
Collagen vascular wounds associated with autoimmune disease
Bone infections and enterocutaneous fistulas

Care focuses on supporting healing while addressing the conditions that affect recovery—not just the wound itself.

What Makes Wound Care at RML Different

Wound care at RML is designed specifically for patients whose wounds are part of a complex medical picture.

RML’s Wound Management Program has been recognized by the National Association of Long-Term Hospitals with a best practices award for innovations in pressure support reflecting a sustained commitment to quality and clinical excellence.

What distinguishes wound care at RML includes:

Hospital-level monitoring for patients with high medical complexity
Leadership by certified wound care specialists
Continuous physician oversight
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Integration of wound management with respiratory, medical, and rehabilitative care

What Patients and Families Can Expect

Healing complex wounds takes time, and progress can vary depending on overall health and medical needs.

Patients and families can expect:

Regular communication as wound care plans are reviewed
Clear explanations of changes in condition or treatment
Attention to comfort, dignity, and safety
Care plans that adapt as healing and recovery continue

Families are supported and kept informed throughout the hospital stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of wounds does RML treat on an inpatient basis?

RML Specialty Hospital provides inpatient wound management for complex wound conditions including pressure injuries (stages 3 and 4), diabetic foot ulcers and lower extremity wounds, post-surgical wound complications, traumatic wounds, wounds associated with vascular disease, and osteomyelitis. We treat patients whose wounds have not responded to outpatient or lower-acuity care and who require hospital-level monitoring, infection management, and specialized wound therapy.

What is negative pressure wound therapy (VAC therapy)?

Negative pressure wound therapy - often referred to as VAC (Vacuum-Assisted Closure) therapy - uses controlled suction applied to a wound through a sealed dressing to promote healing. The negative pressure removes excess fluid, reduces swelling, and draws wound edges together to accelerate tissue formation. At RML, VAC therapy is one of several advanced wound treatment modalities available within our inpatient wound care program.

How is inpatient wound care at RML different from an outpatient wound clinic?

Outpatient wound clinics provide scheduled appointments for dressing changes and follow-up, but patients return home between visits. Inpatient wound care at RML means continuous 24/7 nursing oversight, daily wound assessment by certified wound specialists, immediate management of infection or complications, and coordinated support from nutrition, physical therapy, and infectious disease teams - all within a hospital-level environment appropriate for wounds that are medically complex or at risk of deterioration.

How do I refer a patient with a complex wound to RML?

Physicians, discharge planners, and case managers can initiate a referral by contacting our admissions and care coordination team directly. Our clinical team reviews each case to confirm clinical appropriateness and insurance eligibility. We accept referrals from hospitals and post-acute facilities across the Chicagoland area and DuPage County. Our Hinsdale location serves patients from the western suburbs; our Chicago location serves the broader metropolitan area.

Does Medicare cover inpatient wound care at a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital?

Medicare Part A covers LTACH stays for patients who meet clinical criteria for LTACH-level care, which can include complex wound management requiring ongoing hospital-level treatment. Coverage is subject to qualifying conditions and Medicare's LTACH admission requirements. RML's admissions team works directly with referring providers and families to clarify coverage and facilitate a smooth admission process.

Exploring the Right Next Step

If complex wound care may be part of your loved one’s recovery, the resources below can help guide what to explore next.