A nurse practitioner places, manages, and monitors your wound vac in your home or facility — no outpatient clinic visits, no transportation burden. Medicare-covered when eligible.
Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) — commonly called a “wound vac” — is one of the most effective interventions for complex, slow-healing wounds. A sealed foam or gauze dressing is connected to a small pump that applies controlled sub-atmospheric pressure. The therapy actively removes exudate, reduces edema, approximates wound edges, and stimulates the formation of healthy granulation tissue.
Traditionally, NPWT has meant weekly outpatient clinic visits for dressing changes. Gateway Wound Care eliminates those trips. Our nurse practitioners set up the device, perform dressing changes, troubleshoot leaks and alarms, manage pain, monitor for infection, and coordinate with the DME supplier — all in the patient’s home, assisted living facility, or skilled nursing community.
We provide NPWT in coordination with our dedicated wound vac service line, serving patients across Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, and the entire Gateway service area.
NPWT is a powerful therapy, but it is not the right choice for every wound. Our nurse practitioners evaluate each patient against established clinical criteria and Medicare coverage requirements before recommending vac therapy.
NPWT is contraindicated in untreated osteomyelitis, malignancy in the wound, exposed blood vessels or organs, necrotic tissue with eschar, and certain fistulas. Our NPs rule out contraindications at the first visit.
An NP assesses the wound, confirms NPWT is clinically appropriate, and documents the Medicare LCD-required criteria. Our care coordinator verifies benefits and submits orders to the DME provider.
Once the pump is delivered, we place the first foam or gauze dressing, apply the drape, set the pressure (typically -125 mmHg), confirm a good seal, and educate patient and caregivers on alarms, drainage canister changes, and activity.
Every 48–72 hours a Gateway NP returns to change the dressing, measure the wound, document photos and progress, troubleshoot leaks, and transition to standard dressings when the vac is no longer needed.
Modern NPWT pumps are small and battery-powered — typical device weight is 2–3 pounds and can be worn over the shoulder. Most patients can bathe, sleep, and perform daily activities with minimal disruption.
If an alarm sounds or the dressing leaks between scheduled visits, patients and caregivers call Gateway directly. We troubleshoot by phone and, when needed, dispatch an NP for an unscheduled visit.
Gateway’s NPs perform debridement, graft aftercare, and other wound services alongside NPWT — one unified care team, one clinical record.
Every visit is photographed and measured. Reports go to the referring physician so primary care, surgery, or podiatry always know how the wound is progressing.
Gateway’s mobile wound care team delivers wound vac therapy at home throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area — private residences, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities.
*Medicare Part B covers medically necessary NPWT in the home setting when the patient and wound meet the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) criteria. Coverage is verified before the first visit.