While most private medical practices in the Lehigh Valley are merging into one of the major health networks, one provider is bucking the trend and has gone out on his own.
Dr. Thomas J. Shaughnessy recently opened Lehigh Valley Wound Specialists on South Cedar Crest Boulevard in Salisbury Township, taking his 10 years of experience in treating wounds and using it to run his practice his way.
Shaughnessy has a doctorate in Physical Therapy, he most recently oversaw a staff of about 25 therapists and wound-care specialists at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cedar Crest, Muhlenberg and Hecktown-Oaks campuses.
But he also has a degree in business and economics, so he thought he could combine his wound care skills and business knowledge to run his own practice.
He said he had actually wanted to go solo from the beginning, but student debt prohibited him from being able to invest in his own practice. With his debt paid, he felt he was ready to fulfill his dream.
“I love it,” he said. “There’s no place like this in the area.”
He can also take the time to perform procedures at his own pace.
“My one-to-one time is a lot more flexible now, I have more resources and I am not as worried about my productive time,” he said.
Currently the sole practitioner at Lehigh Valley Wound Specialists, Shaughnessy provides a wide range of treatments for a variety of wounds.
He assists patients in healing chronic, acute, traumatic, vascular, ischemic, surgical, neuropathic or pressure wounds.
Techniques include Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (AKA “Wound VACs”), Pulsed Lavage with Suction, Gradient Sequential Compression, Electrical Stimulation, Ultrasound and MIST therapy.
He also uses more traditional wound care techniques, like dressing changes, topical treatments, debridement and more conservative measures.
Lingering or long-term wounds can often result from ancillary conditions, such as diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, congestive heart failure and other issues, he said.
Shaughnessy has experience with a wide variety of wounds, including chronic, traumatic, surgical, vascular, post-operative, non-healing and amputations. He is a published clinician who has presented at the national Physical Therapy conference four times.
Shaughnessy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics with a minor in Exercise and Sports Science at Ursinus College in 2004 and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Neumann University in Aston, Pa. in 2012. In 2021 he earned his Wound Care Specialist certification from the American Board of Wound Management.
In addition to his practice, he currently serves as an adjunct professor for Moravian University Doctoral Physical Therapy Program.
Lehigh Valley Wound Care is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.