5 Wound Care Referral Options In Philadelphia For Seniors
Finding the right wound care referral Philadelphia providers can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re managing a loved one’s health or dealing with mobility challenges. Chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, and venous ulcers require specialized treatment, and knowing your options makes all the difference in recovery outcomes.
The good news? Seniors in the Philadelphia area have access to several pathways for expert wound care, from hospital-based clinics to mobile physician services that come directly to your home. Some options require a formal referral from your primary care doctor, while others, like Philadelphia Wound Care, offer streamlined processes that get treatment started faster.
This guide breaks down five wound care referral options available to seniors in the Philadelphia region. Whether you’re a caregiver, facility administrator, or patient, you’ll find practical information to help you choose the right fit for your situation.
1. Philadelphia Wound Care house-call wound team
Philadelphia Wound Care operates as a mobile medical practice that brings physician-led wound treatment directly to your home, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living community. Unlike traditional wound care clinics that require multiple trips and waiting rooms, this service sends a licensed General Surgeon to your bedside to evaluate and treat complex wounds where you already feel comfortable and safe.
What care you can get at home
You receive specialized treatment for diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, and post-surgical wounds without leaving your home. The medical team provides advanced therapies including allograft and regenerative treatments that many patients assume are only available in hospital settings. These therapies are covered under Medicare Part B, which removes the financial barrier that often prevents seniors from accessing cutting-edge wound care.
How the referral process works
Philadelphia Wound Care offers a streamlined referral system that gets you care within 24 hours of receiving a request. Your primary care doctor, hospital case manager, or facility staff can submit a referral directly, or you can contact the practice yourself if you need urgent evaluation. This approach eliminates the long waits that often delay healing when you’re dealing with a chronic wound.
The 24-hour response commitment means you don’t spend weeks waiting while a wound worsens.
Who this option fits best
This service works best for homebound seniors or those with limited mobility who find traveling to appointments physically difficult or impossible. You’ll benefit most if you’re managing complex wounds that haven’t responded to standard treatment or if you need coordination between multiple healthcare providers.
Insurance and cost basics for seniors
Philadelphia Wound Care accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and major commercial insurance plans. The practice handles direct billing, so you don’t need to file claims yourself or pay upfront for services.
What to have ready before the first visit
Gather your insurance cards, current medication list, and any recent wound care records from hospitals or previous providers. Having these documents ready helps the physician create a complete treatment plan during the first visit.
2. Penn Wound Care Center
Penn Medicine operates a dedicated wound care facility located at Pennsylvania Hospital in Center City Philadelphia. This hospital-based clinic provides comprehensive outpatient treatment for patients dealing with wounds that haven’t healed through standard care, offering both diagnostic services and advanced therapies in a clinical setting.
What services the center provides
The center treats pressure sores, diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, and surgical wounds that have become complicated. You’ll receive wound debridement, specialized dressings, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy when appropriate for your condition.
How to get a referral and schedule
You need a formal referral from your primary care physician or specialist to access Penn Wound Care Center. Your doctor’s office submits the referral through Penn’s system, and the scheduling team contacts you within several business days to book your first appointment.
Getting your referral submitted early prevents delays in starting treatment.
Who this option fits best
This option works best for ambulatory seniors who can travel to Center City and manage multiple clinic visits. You should feel comfortable with traditional medical appointments and have reliable transportation to and from the facility.
Insurance and cost basics for seniors
Penn accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and most major insurance plans. Check your copay requirements before your first visit, as outpatient specialty services typically carry higher copays than primary care visits.
What to bring and what to expect at check-in
Bring your insurance cards, photo ID, complete medication list, and any imaging results related to your wound. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for registration and paperwork during your first visit.
3. Jefferson Health wound care and chronic wound services
Jefferson Health runs multiple wound care locations across the Philadelphia region, including their main Center City facility and satellite clinics in Northeast Philadelphia and the suburbs. This network approach gives you more flexibility in choosing a location that reduces your travel time while still accessing the same quality of specialized care.
What services the center provides
Jefferson treats diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, arterial wounds, and radiation-related tissue damage. The team provides debridement, compression therapy, specialized dressings, and vascular studies to diagnose circulation problems that slow healing. You’ll work with wound care specialists who coordinate with your other doctors to address underlying health issues affecting recovery.
How to get a referral and schedule
Your primary care doctor submits a referral through Jefferson’s electronic system, which typically processes within three to five business days. The scheduling team calls you to arrange your first appointment at the location most convenient for your situation.
Who this option fits best
You’ll benefit most from Jefferson if you prefer staying within an established healthcare system where your records already exist. This option works well for seniors who value continuity and want their wound care team to communicate directly with their existing Jefferson providers.
Insurance and cost basics for seniors
Jefferson accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and most commercial insurance plans. Contact your specific clinic location before your first visit to verify your plan’s coverage and understand any copay responsibilities.
How to plan transportation and follow-up visits
Jefferson locations offer varying parking options from garages to surface lots. Ask about shuttle services when you schedule, as some facilities provide transportation assistance for seniors. Plan for weekly or biweekly visits initially, as most wound healing protocols require consistent monitoring and treatment adjustments.
Choosing a Jefferson location near public transit or with good parking access reduces the stress of multiple appointments.
4. Temple Health advanced wound care
Temple Health operates a wound care center at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia, offering specialized treatment for patients whose wounds haven’t responded to conventional care. The program combines clinical expertise with research-backed protocols, making it a strong option if you’re looking for a wound care referral Philadelphia providers with academic medical center resources.
What services the center provides
Temple treats chronic wounds including diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, and wounds complicated by infection or poor circulation. You’ll receive advanced diagnostic testing to identify underlying factors preventing healing, along with treatments like specialized dressings, compression therapy, and wound debridement performed by trained specialists.
How to get a referral and schedule
Your primary care physician submits a referral to Temple’s wound care department, which processes requests within several business days. The scheduling team reaches out to arrange your initial evaluation and explains what documentation you should bring to your appointment.
Who this option fits best
This option works best for seniors who live in North Philadelphia or nearby neighborhoods and prefer receiving care at an academic medical center. You should feel comfortable with hospital-based environments and have access to reliable transportation for regular follow-up visits.
Insurance and cost basics for seniors
Temple accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and most commercial insurance plans. Verify your specific coverage and copay amounts by calling Temple’s billing office before your first appointment to avoid unexpected costs.
Questions to ask at your first appointment
Ask about the expected treatment timeline and how often you’ll need to return for wound checks. Request information about home care instructions between visits and which warning signs require immediate medical attention.
Understanding your treatment plan from day one helps you stay on track with healing goals.
5. Roxborough Memorial wound healing and hyperbaric care
Roxborough Memorial Hospital operates a specialized wound healing center in Northwest Philadelphia that focuses on advanced therapies for wounds that resist standard treatment approaches. This facility stands apart by offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy alongside traditional wound care, giving you access to a treatment option that significantly accelerates healing for specific wound types.
When hyperbaric therapy comes up in wound care
Your doctor considers hyperbaric oxygen therapy when you have diabetic ulcers, radiation tissue damage, or compromised circulation preventing normal healing. The treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases oxygen delivery to damaged tissue and fights infection while promoting new blood vessel growth.
How to get a referral and schedule
You need a referral from your primary care physician or specialist to access Roxborough’s wound healing center. The facility processes referrals within several business days and contacts you to schedule an initial evaluation with their wound care team.
Who this option fits best
This option works best for seniors living in Northwest Philadelphia, Roxborough, or Manayunk who require specialized therapy beyond standard wound care. You should feel comfortable with treatment protocols that require multiple sessions over several weeks.
Hyperbaric therapy requires consistent attendance, so choosing a location near your home improves completion rates.
Insurance and cost basics for seniors
Roxborough accepts Medicare and most major insurance plans that cover hyperbaric therapy when medically necessary. Verify your specific coverage requirements before starting treatment, as insurance typically requires documentation proving other methods haven’t worked.
Safety and comfort considerations for seniors
The pressurized chamber environment feels similar to airplane cabin pressure changes. Staff members monitor you throughout each session, and you can communicate with them if you experience ear discomfort or anxiety during treatment.
Next steps for getting care
You now have five solid wound care referral Philadelphia options that address different needs, from mobile physician services to hospital-based clinics with hyperbaric therapy. Your next move depends on your specific situation: homebound patients benefit most from Philadelphia Wound Care’s house-call model, while those who can travel have multiple clinic locations to choose from across the region.
Start by discussing your wound concerns with your primary care doctor, who can submit referrals to any of these facilities. If you need immediate evaluation or prefer physician-led treatment at home, Philadelphia Wound Care offers 24-hour response times for urgent cases and accepts direct patient inquiries alongside traditional referrals.
Don’t wait for a chronic wound to worsen. Early intervention through specialized care prevents complications like infection, amputation, and prolonged recovery. Contact your preferred provider today to schedule your initial evaluation and start your healing journey.