Dawson Named as November Employee of the Month
December 11, 2015Hospice of Care Receives Training Grant
December 24, 2015Ellen Willis, physical therapist at Texas County Memorial Hospital, has received her board certification as a wound specialist (CWS) from the American Board of Wound Management.
To achieve the certification, Willis completed 57 hours of continuing education; wrote a large paper describing her work in wound therapy; received recommendations from physicians she works with at TCMH, and passed a comprehensive examination on wound therapy. Willis has also worked in the field of wound therapy at TCMH since February 2001.
Willis is one of 3,700 individuals in the nation with wound management certification. Established in 1995, the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) is dedicated to the multidisciplinary team approach in promoting the science of prevention, care and treatment of acute and chronic wounds. The ABWM monitors the national certification process, recognizes competency, promotes education and research, and elevates the standard of care across the continuum of wound management.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Ellen’s caliber leading our physical therapy department,” Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, said.
Willis pursued the CWS due to her own interest in furthering her education and knowledge in the field.
“Ellen’s certification and skill in wound therapy is not something that is readily available in most rural hospitals,” Murray said. “Not only is this a great benefit to our patients, but it also helps our nurses and doctors better do their jobs in providing the best care possible for patients with wound needs.”
Willis regularly provides care for hospital inpatients, outpatients and Home Health of the Ozarks patients with wound care needs. Diabetic pressure ulcers, surgical incisions, burns, vascular wounds, traumatic wounds, and spider and snake bite wounds are some of the types of wounds that Willis cares for at TCMH.
Willis has worked in the TCMH physical therapy department since 2001. She began directing the department in 2012. Willis provides physical therapy treatment and lymphedema therapy in addition to wound therapy at the hospital.
Willis resides in Summersville with her husband, Jimmie. They have three daughters.
For additional information about wound therapy services with Willis at TCMH, contact the physical therapy department at (417) 967-1201.