FLORIDA'S ONLY JOINT COMMISSION-ACCREDITED URGENT CARE
FLORIDA'S ONLY JOINT COMMISSION-ACCREDITED URGENT CARE · ONE OF JUST 8 NATIONWIDE
Walk-in wound evaluation, sterile irrigation, tetanus boosters, antibiotic decisions, and same-visit physician care. Joint Commission accredited.
Physician on shift every day. Most insurance accepted. Self-pay welcome.
Yes. TrufaMED treats acute wounds — abrasions, bites, burns, punctures, cellulitis, and abscesses — on a walk-in basis, seven days a week under physician supervision. The typical wound visit — exam, irrigation, tetanus assessment, dressing, and discharge — takes about 45 to 90 minutes.
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Wound healing depends on the first hour more than most patients realize. Sterile irrigation removes bacteria and debris, physician-level assessment determines whether antibiotics are actually needed (most clean wounds do not), tetanus status is updated, and the right dressing keeps the wound moist and protected. At TrufaMED every wound is seen and managed by a board-certified physician — not a drop-off cleanup.
Most acute wounds are urgent-care level. Each type has its own evaluation and treatment path. Our physicians manage the full non-surgical wound spectrum in clinic with on-site irrigation, dressings, tetanus, antibiotics, and imaging when needed.
Scooter, bike, and skate abrasions are the most common wounds we see. They need thorough irrigation to remove embedded grit (which otherwise tattoos into the healing skin), a non-adherent dressing, and tetanus update if due.
Nails, fish hooks, glass, sharp shells, construction debris. Punctures are deceptively serious because visible damage is small but the deep tissue has not been cleaned. Irrigation, foreign-body evaluation, and tetanus are mandatory.
Dog, cat, and human bites. High infection rate — especially cat and human bites on the hand. Most bite wounds get prophylactic antibiotics, rabies-risk assessment, and tetanus update. Severe bites on hands or face may warrant surgical consultation.
Redness, warmth, spreading streaks, pus, pain out of proportion, or fever. Our physicians drain abscesses, culture when indicated, select the right oral or IV antibiotic, and set a follow-up window.
Bed sores on heels, sacrum, and elbows in bed-bound or wheelchair-using patients. Staging, cleaning, dressing, and most importantly identifying and correcting the pressure source.
Diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, arterial ulcers, wounds open longer than 4 weeks. These need systematic evaluation including diabetes control, vascular assessment, infection management, and often HBOT.
Every acute wound visit follows the same basic sequence. The details shift by wound type but the framework is consistent. Skipping steps — especially irrigation — is the single most common reason wounds go on to get infected.
When, how, where. A wound from a dog is a different risk than an identical wound from a rusty nail, and the knowledge of what caused it drives tetanus and antibiotic decisions. Our physicians ask about mechanism, time since injury, location, contamination source (water, soil, fecal material, saltwater), immunization history, and underlying conditions like diabetes or immunosuppression.
Many puncture wounds hide a retained foreign body: a piece of glass, a tooth, wood, or metal. Missed foreign bodies are a major reason wounds fail to heal and a leading source of malpractice claims. Our physicians use bedside exam, handheld magnification, and when needed on-site digital X-ray or ultrasound to find and remove them.
The single most important step. A typical wound receives 50 to 100 mL of sterile saline per centimeter of wound length, at enough pressure to dislodge bacteria and debris (a 35 mL syringe with a splash guard does this well). For grossly contaminated wounds — road rash with embedded grit — irrigation volumes are higher. Irrigation reduces infection rates more than any single antibiotic decision.
Devitalized tissue is bacteria food. Our physicians trim away non-viable skin edges, clot, and necrotic fat under local anesthesia when needed. Sharp debridement in clinic, conservative. Extensive debridement of large wounds is a surgical case we refer.
Not every wound should be sutured. Primary closure is appropriate for clean, sharp wounds under about 12 hours old (24 on the face). Heavily contaminated, bite, or old wounds heal better with delayed primary closure or healing by secondary intention. Forcing a closure on the wrong wound turns a small abrasion into an abscess.
A moist wound bed heals about twice as fast as a dry one. Our physicians dress wounds based on depth, exudate level, location, and patient activity. Non-adherent, absorbent, and semi-occlusive dressings each have their place. Patients leave with a written plan for dressing changes at home.
Typical Visit Flow
On-Site Capabilities
Tetanus is rare but devastating and almost entirely preventable with appropriate booster timing. Every wound visit includes a tetanus review. The rule is simpler than patients expect.
| Wound Type | Last Booster < 5 yrs | Last Booster 5–10 yrs | Last Booster > 10 yrs or Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean, minor | No booster | No booster | Tdap today |
| Dirty, deep, puncture, bite, crush | No booster | Tdap today | Tdap today + tetanus immune globulin if unvaccinated |
The shorthand: 5-year rule for dirty wounds, 10-year rule for clean wounds. If your most recent Tdap was more than 5 years ago and your wound is dirty, deep, a bite, or a puncture, you need a booster. If it was more than 10 years ago, you need one for any wound including minor scrapes. We keep Tdap in stock and give it at the wound visit — no second trip needed.
For adults who have never had a tetanus series (rare in the United States but common for some international patients), dirty wounds require both Tdap and tetanus immune globulin (TIG), which provides immediate passive immunity while the active immunization takes effect.
Most clean wounds do not need antibiotics. Good irrigation beats empirical antibiotics in nearly every head-to-head study. Where antibiotics matter is a focused set of wound patterns with predictable infection risk. Our physicians prescribe when the evidence supports it — and skip when it does not.
Cephalexin or dicloxacillin for simple skin infection without MRSA risk. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline when MRSA is likely. Amoxicillin-clavulanate for bites and mouth or facial trauma. Ciprofloxacin for Pseudomonas coverage. Vancomycin or clindamycin for severe infections. Most uncomplicated infections get a 5- to 7-day course; longer for deeper or slow-responding wounds.
Quick Decision Rules
Skin and soft tissue infections — cellulitis without abscess, abscess with or without cellulitis, and the occasional deeper infection — are among the most common reasons patients come to urgent care for wound concerns.
Cellulitis presents as spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness without a drainable pocket. Borders are typically marked with a pen to track progression. Mild cases are treated with oral antibiotics (cephalexin or, if MRSA is likely, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Moderate-to-severe cases — fever, rapid progression, hand or face involvement, or failure of oral therapy — may warrant IV antibiotics in clinic or transfer to emergency care.
An abscess is a collection of pus under the skin. The primary treatment is surgical drainage, not antibiotics alone. Our physicians numb the area, make a linear incision over the point of maximal fluctuance, drain the cavity, break up loculations, irrigate, and pack or leave open as appropriate. A wound care plan and follow-up is scheduled before discharge.
For most simple, uncomplicated abscesses in otherwise healthy adults, drainage alone is sufficient. Antibiotics are added when the surrounding cellulitis is extensive, when the patient has comorbidities (diabetes, immunosuppression), when the abscess is in a high-risk location (face, hand, perineum), or when systemic signs (fever, tachycardia) are present. Culture results help refine therapy for recurrent or treatment-resistant cases.
Any sign of necrotizing soft tissue infection — pain out of proportion to exam, crepitus, skin discoloration beyond the erythema, systemic toxicity, or rapid progression — is an emergency department transfer. These are rare but surgical emergencies. Our physicians identify and escalate them early.
I&D Procedure
Most burns seen in urgent care are small first- and second-degree burns from cooking, beach or pool equipment, and hot liquids. Our physicians evaluate size and depth, dress appropriately, and identify the burns that need a specialized burn center.
We manage first-degree burns, superficial second-degree burns under about 5 to 10 percent body surface area (roughly the size of the patient’s palm times 5 to 10), and minor burns in non-critical locations. Burns that need a burn center: deep second- or third-degree; burns to face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints; circumferential burns of a limb; electrical burns; chemical burns; inhalation injury; and any burn in an infant, elderly, or immunocompromised patient. Our physicians make that decision early and arrange direct transfer when needed.
Cool the burn (not with ice), clean gently, drain large tense blisters under sterile conditions, apply topical antimicrobial (bacitracin or silver sulfadiazine), dress with a non-adherent dressing, update tetanus if due, and provide analgesia. Follow-up in 24 to 48 hours is standard for anything more than superficial first-degree.
A wound that has not healed in 4 weeks needs a different approach. Urgent care alone will not close a chronic wound — systemic drivers (diabetes, vascular disease, pressure, infection, nutrition) have to be addressed in parallel. For oxygen-limited wounds, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be the difference between healing and amputation.
Any wound that has failed to close in 4 weeks despite standard care is considered chronic. The most common types in Miami: diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers on the lower leg, arterial (ischemic) ulcers in patients with peripheral vascular disease, and pressure ulcers in limited-mobility patients. Each has a different pathophysiology and treatment.
For specific indications — diabetic foot ulcers at Wagner grade 3 or higher, failed flaps and grafts, chronic osteomyelitis, radiation-induced tissue damage, and late-effect surgical wounds — hyperbaric oxygen therapy can dramatically accelerate healing. HBOT delivers 100 percent oxygen at 2 to 2.4 atmospheres of pressure, driving oxygen into tissues that are otherwise oxygen-starved. It stimulates new blood vessel growth, improves white blood cell function, and has a direct bactericidal effect against certain organisms.
TrufaMED offers on-site HBOT in Surfside. Candidacy is determined by a wound specialist or physician after workup. Typical courses run 20 to 40 sessions for chronic wound indications. Medicare and most major plans cover HBOT for approved wound indications.
Chronic Wound Red Flags
Urgent care handles the overwhelming majority of wound visits. A subset of wounds require emergency department resources — operating rooms, interventional radiology, blood banks, surgical specialists. The findings below move disposition from urgent care to ER.
Go to the ER or call 911 if:
If you are unsure, come in. We triage on arrival, and when the exam or history warrant emergency-level care we arrange direct transfer without a second evaluation. The cost of a same-day physician evaluation is worth it when the alternative is missing a tendon laceration that will not heal without a hand surgeon.
Wound care in urgent care ranges from excellent to careless. What you want is a setting with sterile technique, on-site imaging, physician judgment, and the equipment and medications to handle what walks through the door — including tetanus, antibiotics, and IV therapy when needed.
01 · Accreditation
Florida’s Only JC-Accredited Urgent Care
Joint Commission accreditation audits our sterile technique, medication safety, infection control, and clinical protocols every three years — the same body that accredits hospitals.
02 · Physicians
Every Wound Seen by an MD
Every wound is evaluated and managed by a board-certified physician. Led by Dr. Uri Gedalia (Chief Medical Officer, board-certified General Surgeon) and Dr. Shane D. Naidoo (Medical Director, Emergency Medicine). Meet them on our staff page.
03 · Imaging
On-Site X-Ray & Ultrasound
Retained foreign body? Suspected fracture under a laceration? Digital X-ray and bedside ultrasound available in the same visit — no separate imaging appointment needed.
04 · Capabilities
Tetanus, Antibiotics, I&D In-Clinic
Tdap vaccine in stock, oral and IV antibiotics available in clinic, lidocaine and abscess drainage routine, on-site lab for wound cultures when indicated.
05 · HBOT On-Site
Hyperbaric Oxygen for Chronic Wounds
For chronic non-healing wounds that meet indication criteria — diabetic foot ulcers, failed grafts, radiation damage — on-site HBOT avoids a separate wound center referral.
06 · Insurance
Most Plans Accepted
Wound care is covered by most major plans: Aetna, Cigna, UHC, Humana, Oscar*, Medicare. Self-pay is quoted up front before services are rendered. No surprise billing.
The questions our physicians answer most often about walk-in wound care.
TrufaMED is at 9445 Harding Ave in Surfside — minutes from Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, and Aventura. Walk in without an appointment seven days a week.
9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154 · Contact our team · Walk-in only — no appointment needed.
Monday – Friday
9 AM – 9 PM
Saturday
11 AM – 11 PM
Sunday
12 PM – 8 PM
TrufaMED is Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care. In addition to wound care, we handle the full urgent care spectrum including laceration repair, sprains and strains, fractures, HBOT, and digital X-ray. Most insurance accepted. Self-pay patients welcome.
Wound care services — physician exam, irrigation, tetanus, suturing, abscess drainage, imaging, antibiotics — are covered by most major plans as a standard urgent care visit.
Wound evaluation, sterile irrigation, tetanus, antibiotics, and dressings in a single urgent care visit. No appointment needed. Most insurance accepted.
Medical Disclaimer: Content on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Wound severity varies, and proper treatment requires an in-person physician evaluation. If you are experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, suspected artery or nerve injury, chest or abdominal wounds, major trauma, signs of necrotizing infection, or any other life-threatening symptom, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine — 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154 — (305) 537-6396. Joint Commission accredited.
TrufaMED Urgent Care in Surfside provides comprehensive wound care for a wide variety of injuries that require professional medical attention. Our board-certified physicians are experienced in wound assessment, cleaning, closure, and infection prevention for patients of all ages, from active children to elderly adults.
Lacerations are cuts in the skin caused by sharp objects such as knives, glass, metal edges, or falls onto hard surfaces. The decision to close a laceration with sutures, staples, or adhesive depends on the wound's depth, length, location, and time since injury. Facial lacerations receive particular attention to cosmetic outcome, and our physicians use meticulous closure techniques to minimize visible scarring. Extremity lacerations involving hands and fingers are carefully evaluated for tendon, nerve, and vascular injury before closure.
Abrasions, commonly called scrapes or road rash, occur when friction removes the outer layers of skin. These injuries are common in cyclists, skateboarders, runners, and anyone who falls on rough surfaces. While abrasions may appear superficial, proper cleaning and debridement are essential to remove embedded debris and prevent traumatic tattooing, a permanent discoloration caused by dirt particles healing into the skin. Our providers use appropriate irrigation techniques and anesthesia to ensure thorough cleaning.
Puncture wounds from nails, needles, animal bites, and other pointed objects carry a high risk of deep tissue infection because bacteria are pushed beneath the skin surface. These wounds require careful evaluation for foreign body retention, assessment of tetanus vaccination status, and often prophylactic antibiotics. Bite wounds from animals and humans are treated with particular caution due to the polymicrobial nature of oral bacteria and the elevated infection risk associated with bite injuries.
Burns are classified by depth, and treatment depends on the severity and extent of the injury. First-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling similar to a sunburn. These burns typically heal within a week with proper home care. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis, producing blisters, intense pain, and moist wound surfaces. Superficial second-degree burns generally heal within two to three weeks with appropriate wound care, while deeper second-degree burns may require extended treatment and carry a higher risk of scarring.
At TrufaMED, we treat first and second-degree burns including sunburns, cooking burns, contact burns from hot surfaces, chemical irritation burns, and minor scald injuries. Our treatment protocol includes gentle wound cleaning, appropriate debridement of damaged tissue, application of specialized burn dressings, pain management, and tetanus prophylaxis when indicated. We provide detailed wound care instructions for home management and schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing progress.
Third-degree burns, which destroy the full thickness of skin and may involve underlying tissues, extensive burns covering large body surface areas, and burns affecting the airway or circumferential burns of extremities require emergency department or burn center evaluation. Our physicians can provide initial stabilization and appropriate referral for these severe injuries.
Modern wound closure encompasses several techniques, and selecting the optimal method depends on wound characteristics and patient factors. Traditional sutures remain the gold standard for many lacerations, providing precise wound edge approximation and strong tensile strength during healing. Our physicians use absorbable sutures for deep tissue layers and non-absorbable sutures for skin closure, with suture size selected based on wound location and tension requirements.
Skin adhesive, a medical-grade tissue glue, provides an excellent alternative for certain wounds, particularly in pediatric patients where the prospect of stitches may cause significant anxiety. Adhesive works well for clean, straight lacerations on low-tension areas and eliminates the need for suture removal. Adhesive strips and butterfly closures are appropriate for superficial wounds that require gentle approximation without full-thickness closure.
Staples are used for scalp lacerations and certain body locations where rapid closure is advantageous. Our clinic maintains all necessary wound closure materials and local anesthetics to ensure comfortable, effective treatment regardless of the technique required.
Preventing wound infection begins with thorough cleaning and proper closure technique, both of which are performed with meticulous attention at TrufaMED. We use high-pressure irrigation to remove bacteria and debris from wound surfaces, which has been shown to significantly reduce infection rates compared to simple rinsing. Prophylactic antibiotics are prescribed selectively for wounds with elevated infection risk, including bite wounds, heavily contaminated injuries, and wounds in immunocompromised patients.
Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that can develop from contaminated wounds, particularly puncture wounds, wounds containing soil or debris, and crush injuries. Our providers assess your tetanus vaccination status during every wound care visit and administer tetanus prophylaxis according to current immunization guidelines. Adults who have not received a tetanus booster within the past five years and sustain a contaminated wound are candidates for tetanus toxoid administration.
TrufaMED Urgent Care provides walk-in wound care and burn treatment at our clinic located at 9445 Harding Ave in Surfside, FL. Our facility is equipped with on-site digital X-ray for evaluating wounds with suspected foreign bodies or underlying fractures, and our physicians are experienced in all modern wound closure techniques. We serve patients from Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, and the greater Miami-Dade area. No appointment is necessary, and we accept most major insurance plans alongside self-pay options.
TrufaMED concierge members get 24/7 physician access, same-day appointments, and on-site diagnostics under one roof.
Learn About Concierge Medicine →Recovery option: TrufaMED offers HBOT for wound healing with our clinical-grade hyperbaric chamber. Sessions from $150. Learn more about HBOT →