Preparing for Your First Wound Care Visit

You do not need a perfect history to start

Preparing for your first wound care visit is mostly about helping the clinician understand three things: how the wound got here, what else is going on with your health, and what matters to you. You can cover all three with a page of notes.

Missing records should not hold you back. When you request care or call 314-325-0126, Gateway helps coordinate records from other offices as part of arranging the visit. Whether the visit is at home, in a facility or in an office in Greater St. Louis or the Metro East, the preparation is much the same.

Write down the wound’s story

Dates can be rough. “Around Thanksgiving” is useful. Note what you can about:

When you first noticed the wound and how it started (an injury, surgery, a blister, or no clear cause)
Whether it has grown, shrunk or stayed about the same
Who has looked at it so far, such as primary care, urgent care, a surgeon or a home health nurse
What has been used on it, including dressings, creams, antibiotics or compression (a description is fine if you do not know the names)
What it is like today: pain, drainage, odor, swelling
Any earlier wound in the same place
Tests you remember, such as an X-ray, a circulation test or a culture, and where they were done

If you are unsure of a date or a treatment name, say so and note which office would know.

Gather what you already have

Put these in one bag or folder the day before:

Your up-to-date medication list, including over-the-counter items and supplements, or the bottles themselves
Allergies, including reactions to tape, adhesive or latex
Discharge papers and any written wound instructions
The dressing supplies you are using now, with their packaging
Insurance cards
Names and phone numbers of your other clinicians and any home health agency

If you have diabetes and track your blood sugar, have recent readings handy. When the visit is scheduled, ask which records you should bring and which will be requested directly from another office. The guide to wound care records and what to gather has a fuller list.

Get yourself and the space ready

For a home visit, pick a spot with good light where the clinician can reach the wound. Clear a small surface nearby and put pets in another room. Our guide to getting ready for a home wound care visit covers the room in more detail.

Wear loose clothing that comes off easily over the wound. If dressing changes are painful, mention it when the visit is scheduled. For an office visit, confirm the address, parking and your ride.

What usually happens at a first visit

The treating clinician will usually:

Ask about your health history and the wound’s story
Look at the wound and the skin around it, and measure it
Check circulation and feeling in the legs or feet when that is relevant
Review your medications
Explain what they believe is slowing healing and propose a plan
Order tests, supplies or other services if needed

Any treatment is explained first, and you can ask questions before agreeing to it. For a closer look, see what happens during a home wound care visit.

Questions worth asking

Choose the two or three that matter most and write them at the top of your notes:

What kind of wound is this, and what is keeping it from healing?
Who changes the dressing between visits, and how often?
Which changes should I report, and who do I call?
Will my primary care clinician receive your notes?

Tell the team what matters to you

The plan has to fit your life to work. Say so if you want a relative involved, and see our guide to including a family member in your wound care. Mention anything that affects how you take in information, such as hearing, vision, reading or language. The guide to asking for communication support at wound visits can help.

Describe your day as well: work, caring for someone else, how you bathe. If you have a goal, such as sleeping through the night, name it.

If the wound changes before the visit

Do not wait for the scheduled visit if you notice spreading redness, fever or chills, new pus, a foul smell, or pain that is rising quickly. Call your primary care clinician or go to urgent care. For an emergency, call 911.

Common questions

Should I take the dressing off before the clinician arrives?

Generally no. Leave it in place unless you were told otherwise. The clinician learns from seeing how the dressing held up and how much drainage it collected, and uncovering the wound early leaves it exposed. If the dressing is soaked or has come off, follow your current instructions and mention it at the visit.

Can I have a first visit without a referral or my records?

You can call Gateway directly, with or without a referral, and records can be requested while the visit is being arranged. Some insurance plans do require a referral before they will pay, so ask your plan. The guide on whether you need a referral for wound care explains more.

Will treatment start at the first visit?

Often the clinician cleans and dresses the wound and sets a starting plan that day. Some parts of a plan may wait for test results, supplies or an approval from your insurance plan. The treating clinician decides what is appropriate and will tell you what happens next.

How much time should I set aside for a first wound care visit?

It varies with the wound and your health history, so ask when the visit is scheduled. First visits generally run longer than follow-ups because the clinician takes a full history and does a complete assessment. Try not to book anything right after it.

General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Updated October 2026

Preparing for your first wound care visit.