Proper Title for a Wound Care Physician
A physician who specializes in wound care is most commonly referred to as a "wound care specialist" or "wound care physician," though there is currently no formal board certification or recognized medical subspecialty designation for this field. 1, 2
Current Professional Landscape
Terminology in Practice
- Physicians practicing wound care typically use descriptive titles such as:
- Wound care specialist
- Wound care physician
- Wound healing specialist 1
- These physicians come from diverse specialty backgrounds including family medicine, podiatry, plastic surgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation 3, 4
Lack of Formal Specialty Status
- Wound healing is not currently recognized as a formal medical specialty by organized medicine, meaning there is no standardized residency/fellowship training pathway or board certification through the American Board of Medical Specialties 1, 2
- Over 13,000 physicians practice wound care in the United States without a certifying medical board to confirm their scope of practice 2
- This creates a unique situation where qualified healthcare professionals (QHPs) manage wound care centers without standardized credentialing 3
Emerging Certification Efforts
Academic Training Programs
- The American College of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair was founded to organize university-based medical school programs around a common curriculum for physicians specializing in wound healing 1
- Two wound care fellows have graduated from formal fellowship programs, with additional programs under development 1
- The goal is to achieve formal certification accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties within the next decade 1, 2
Multidisciplinary Team Context
Role Within Care Teams
- Wound care is fundamentally an interprofessional activity involving physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, wound care nurses, surgical teams, infectious disease specialists, and dieticians 5, 4
- The physician's role includes developing comprehensive wound care plans, performing debridement, managing infections with antibiotics and surgical interventions, and coordinating revascularization when needed 5
Clinical Responsibilities
- Physicians in wound care settings provide specialized care using various wound care therapies and advanced biological solutions 3, 1
- They manage complex patients with chronic wounds including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, arterial insufficiency ulcers, pressure injuries, and surgical wounds 5, 6
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not assume that all healthcare professionals using the title "doctor" in wound care settings are physicians (MD/DO). Advanced practice registered nurses with doctoral degrees (DNP) and other professionals with PhDs may also work in wound care, and patients should be informed of the educational background and training differences among team members 5