Developing wound services through digitising wound assessment: the benefits and challenges in a rural community nursing service

Abstract

The documentation of wound assessments are an integral part of the holistic care of a patient and form the foundation of effective wound care. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about challenges in delivering services. Telehealth was at the forefront of the agenda in many organisations, but within wound care services the physical interaction between clinician and patient needed to continue. With the nurse staffing crisis hitting most areas, there is an ongoing threat to deliver safe and effective care. The aim of this study was to review the benefits and challenges of digital wound assessment technology in clinical practice. The author looked at reviews and guidance on the integration of technology within clinical practice. It was found that utilising digital tools in daily practice can empower clinicians in many ways. The most immediate aim of digitised assessment would be to streamline documentation and assessment processes. However, there are multiple factors in embedding this type of technology into daily practice that can cause challenges, dependent on clinical area and clinician uptake.