The new clinic offers a specialized solution for residents in the northern region, focusing on treating difficult-to-heal wounds. This marks the first step toward the establishment of a hyperbaric chamber facility in the region's medical infrastructure.
The clinic is led by Dr. Moshe Kulikovsky, a prominent expert in wound care and one of the founders of the Israeli Society for Diabetic Foot and Wound Healing. The multidisciplinary medical team includes physicians from various fields, wound care specialists, nurses, a nutritionist, and lymphatic physiotherapy services, utilizing cutting-edge technologies.
According to a survey conducted by the Ziv Medical Center, one of the most needed healthcare services in the region is a clinic focused on healing difficult wounds. This clinic will serve patients who have undergone initial treatments without achieving full recovery and require a comprehensive approach from a team of specialists. In the future, treatments will be supplemented by the hyperbaric chamber facility expected to open by the end of the year at Ziv.
The clinic will treat various types of wounds, including:
One of the primary focuses of the clinic is diabetic foot care, which is prevalent in the northern population. Diabetes, considered a global epidemic, affects a significant portion of the Israeli population, with 9.7% of citizens diagnosed with the disease—higher than the European average of 6.3%. In the northern region, the rate exceeds 14%, compared to 11% in the central part of the country.
Diabetes can lead to blood flow issues and nerve damage in the lower limbs, which can result in foot ulcers and subsequent infections. These complications may eventually require amputation. Statistics show that 25-30% of diabetic patients develop foot ulcers during their lifetime, with some cases deteriorating into necrosis and ultimately limb amputation. This leads to disability and a decline in quality of life.
Data from the Ministry of Health in 2019 revealed that the highest rate of diabetes-related amputations occurred in the northern region (20 per 100,000 people), significantly higher than the national average of 14.6. In Tel Aviv, the rate was only 10.3. This new clinic will offer much-needed care to residents of the Galilee, Golan Heights, Karmiel, and nearby areas, reducing the need for long-distance travel to treat complex wounds.
Dr. Moshe Kulikovsky emphasized, "Treating hard-to-heal wounds requires a personalized approach tailored to the patient's underlying conditions and the severity of the wound. The new clinic will provide comprehensive, professional care through a multidisciplinary team."
Prof. Salman Zarka, Director of Ziv Medical Center, added, "The Ziv Medical Center continues to expand and enhance health services, aiming to make top-tier medical care accessible to residents of the North, right here at Ziv, close to home."