When deep wounds caused by an accident last March refused to heal, Ragnhild Baade, known as Frau Baade to generations of Boothbay Region High School German students, had to put a long-planned trip to Germany on hold.

Frau Baade had gotten out of her vehicle on a snowy road following a family shopping trip. When the vehicle began to roll, she tried to get back in to stop it, but slipped and the rear left wheel rolled over both of her legs.

Even after several days in the hospital, 12 days in a rehabilitation facility and visits from a home healthcare nurse, the deep wound on Frau Baade’s right leg refused to heal. Swelling in both legs made it impossible for her to wear her normal shoes and even standing was painful. No position was comfortable and her ability to walk for any distance was limited.

For the active 74-year-old (mostly) retired teacher who had hiked 200 miles on Spain’s Camino de Santiago two years before, the situation was not acceptable.

At the LincolnHealth Wound Care Center, Frau Baade found providers who specialized in difficult-to-heal wounds. Using technology and research-proven wound care treatments, the physician-led team helped Frau Baade heal so she could get back to her normal life.

A portable vacuum system improved circulation and cleaned the wound on her right leg. Special medication-impregnated bandages also improved circulation and kept moisture at the optimal level for healing. As important as anything to Frau Baade, however, was the caring attitude of staff members.

“I would come in here sometimes in really low spirits when things seemed to be going slowly, but I would always leave in a cheerful mood. From the receptionist to the nursing staff to the doctor, everyone was caring. You walked through the door and you were made to feel uplifted,” said Baade.

A partnership between LincolnHealth and Healogics, a national leader in wound care and research, the LincolnHealth Wound Care Center in Boothbay Harbor features highly trained local providers using the latest technology to ensure every wound heals as quickly as possible.

Healogics maintains the largest database of wound treatments in the world, which allows providers to create a specialized plan for each patient based on techniques that have worked for similar wounds.

Since opening in February, the LincolnHealth Wound Care Center has achieved a healing rate of more than 94 percent with a median healing time of less than 20 days.

For patients like, Frau Baade, who is back to taking walks of several miles and looking forward to visiting Germany this year, that means quicker healing times and a faster return to normal life.

“The positive and supportive attitude of staff was great. They were like a beacon of hope,” said Frau Baade.