Patients suffering from wounds and in need of hyperbaric therapy can find that kind of care now in Hinesville.
Though it’s been open for a while, Liberty Regional Medical Center officials unveiled to the public the new Liberty Regional Hyperbaric and Wound Care Center, adjacent to the hospital, Tuesday morning.
“We are extremely grateful to have this service offered to our community,” said LRMC Chief Executive Officer Derek Rozier.
A countywide health needs assessment in 2022 showed the need for hyperbaric therapy and wound care. Many patients who have diabetes have problems with wounds that won’t heal, and many Liberty County residents are afflicted with diabetes.
That assessment, Rozier said, showed the impact of diabetes in the community.
Crystal Caines, program educator with Innovative Health Systems, said the wound care center is a “groundbreaking facility dedicated to enhancing wound care and patient recovery through advanced wound care modalities and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”
The LRMC broke ground on the facility July 23, 2024, and it opened its doors April 28, 2025.
The facility has four examination rooms and has two hyperbaric chambers, along with an office for a medical director and clinical director.
“Today marks not just the opening of a new facility,” Caines said. “It marks a renewed commitment to healing, innovation and compassionate care right here in Liberty County. This center was built with a clear mission — to provide advanced specialized care for individuals suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds and complex conditions that require more than conventional treatment.”
In hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a patient breathes in 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. That allows for more oxygen to the body. Such therapy can be used to treat wounds and can be used on tissue damaged through radiation therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The facility’s services include comprehensive wound care for diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, surgical wounds and more, Caines said. A team of doctors, nurses and wound care specialists are involved in creating and carrying out patients’ treatment plans.
“We have combined state-of-the-art technology with a deeply human approach to care, because we know that healing is not just physical, it is emotional and personal too,” Caines said. “Chronic wounds affect millions of Americans each year and without proper treatment, they can lead to serious complications. But with the right care that is timely, specialized and compassionate, healing is possible.”
Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette also espoused having that kind of treatment available locally, particularly for a growing county that has a population of approximately 70,000.
“I salute and congratulate the hospital authority for bringing to our community another vital service to address wound care,” he said. “How many people used to have to travel to Savannah for this service? We are proud that you have this here.”
“No longer will patients have to travel far or wait for weeks for advanced wound treatment,” Caines added. “We’re ready to serve and ready to make a difference.”