Redefining Wound Care: Charleston Clinic Blends Comfort, Innovation and Compassion
When people think of luxury health care, wound care usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for Chris Michaelis, DO, that’s exactly the perception he set out to change when he started Charleston Wound Care. “I always loved the patient experience you see in a plastic surgery office. They’re clean, welcoming and attentive,” he explained. “I didn’t see why wound care patients shouldn’t receive the same level of care.”
A Boutique Approach to Healing
From the moment you walk into Charleston Wound Care, the space feels more like a boutique medical spa than a sterile hospital wing. Dr. Michaelis and his team have built a model that blends clinical excellence with compassion, accessibility and dignity. “We wanted to re-invent how wound care was performed, not re-create a typical impersonal experience,” he said. “I wanted to build a place where patients feel seen and supported and where staff want to work and enjoy being there.”
The idea of “luxury wound care” might sound contradictory, but at Charleston Wound Care it means something different: treating patients with respect, using advanced therapies and creating an environment that promotes both physical and emotional recovery—without a luxury-level price tag. “Luxury wound care is about optimal healing, cutting-edge treatment and the kind of environment that promotes recovery,” Dr. Michaelis said.
A Pioneer in Private Wound Care
As one of the first private wound care offices in a field long dominated by hospital-based clinics, Charleston Wound Care began ahead of its time. “When we started, there weren’t private wound care centers. We didn’t have a playbook,” Dr. Michaelis recalled. “But our outcomes were excellent, and soon other doctors were asking how to build what we’d built. We became consultants, helping others across the country replicate our model.”
That success came just before the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the clinic to expand access through telehealth. By offering virtual visits and collaborating with home health nurses, the team maintained continuity of care for patients unable to visit in person—an approach that remains integral today. “Wounds can be debilitating,” Dr. Michaelis explained. “When someone is paralyzed or suffering from something like MS, even getting to an appointment can cause trauma. By using telehealth in those instances, we can use home health nurses as our eyes and hands and stay connected to the patient in their own environment.”
Raising the Standard of Care
Beyond accessibility, Charleston Wound Care focuses on elevating the standard of treatment itself. “Many wound centers are stuck in the past, using treatments that were outdated 20 years ago,” Dr. Michaelis said. “We believe if you’re going to do something, you should do it to the best of your ability. We constantly seek the most effective, clinically supported, innovative therapies.”
That philosophy is reflected in every detail of the patient experience—from convenient parking and fast follow-ups to compassionate staff and short wait times. “We hold our patients’ hands through the entire healing journey,” Dr. Michaelis said.
Innovation Without the Price Tag
In a world where many assume excellent care must come at a steep cost, Dr. Michaelis and his team are proving that comfort, innovation and affordability can go hand in hand. Charleston Wound Care’s model demonstrates that advanced medicine can be delivered with both precision and empathy, setting a new standard for what patients can expect from modern wound care.
Experience luxury wound care for yourself at locations in Mount Pleasant, West Ashley or Summerville. Visit charlestonwoundcare.com to make an appointment.
By Anne Toole
