Call the wound specialist for a new wound in a high-risk patient, any wound that is larger, deeper, reopening, more painful, or draining more, and signs such as spreading redness, warmth, swelling, odor, pus, black tissue, or fever. Call emergency services for severe bleeding, confusion, breathing difficulty, or rapidly worsening infection.
Keep the wound team's number, after-hours instructions, dressing orders, and patient medication and allergy list available. Ask which changes require a routine message, a same-day call, or emergency care. These individualized instructions override general education.
Report a wound that becomes larger or deeper, reopens, develops black or discolored tissue, exposes deeper structures, or has increasing pain, odor, redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage. Also call when the dressing repeatedly leaks or falls off, prescribed supplies are unavailable, or the caregiver cannot safely complete the ordered care.
Promptly report a new skin break or blister in someone with diabetes, neuropathy, poor circulation, immune suppression, limited mobility, or a recent operation. Changes can be subtle: new confusion, reduced appetite, weakness, or unexpectedly high glucose may accompany illness in an older adult.
Share when the change began, wound location and measurements if trained to obtain them, drainage amount and color, odor, temperature, pain pattern, glucose readings when relevant, and what dressing was used. A dated photo may help if the patient consents and the team uses a secure method.
Call 911 or seek emergency evaluation for uncontrolled or rapidly saturating bleeding, severe or rapidly escalating pain, rapidly spreading redness or discoloration, fever with confusion or faintness, breathing difficulty, visible deep structures after a wound opens, or a limb that becomes cold, pale, blue, weak, or numb. Do not wait for a mobile or routine clinic visit.
Call 877-545-1300 or request a provider to begin care. Healix360 serves Southern California and Nevada and accepts Medicare Part B and most major insurance plans.