Telemedicine in pediatric wound care.

Abstract

Telemedical wound care is one of the possible applications of teledermatology. The treatment of pediatric wounds needs frequent and periodic assessments of their local status and adjustment of dressings choice. We present our experience using telemedicine in the successful assessment and treatment of 19 pediatric patients at the OPBG, Rome . Photographs with a digital camera were taken and sent weekly by mail to a wound care specialist in Rome. This allowed the expert to diagnose and evaluate the wounds periodically. In the shown cases, telemedicine allowed us to have an immediate evaluation and therapy adjustment. The quality of the images was good enough that the physician could regularly evaluate the status of the wound and immediately give his feedback to the parents. Of these 19, 13 patients (68%) experienced a wound resolution during the remote monitoring period. The satisfaction of the parents detected at 3, 6 and 12 months was found to be respectively 57%, 71%, 84%. Reducing transportation to the hospital to obtain a specialist advice, wound teleconsultation lowers health care costs and improve the quality of life for pediatric patients and their family, while still maintaining a high quality of pediatric wound care.