Abstract
PURPOSE: Wound care accounts for more than 40% of home care visits. Health Authorities in many jurisdictions have realized superior results with the implementation of wound care technology to support wound care patients and healthcare providers. OBJECTIVE: In a city with population 54,000, a not-for-profit, national community healthcare organization wanted to pilot the wound care technology to determine if wound outcomes could be enhanced. Twenty nurses, one physician, and one wound care specialist were trained and used the technology. Electronic health records were created over an eight-week period for 35 clients with a variety of wounds who were being cared for in their homes. Front line nurses, at the point of care, used laptops to document assessments, took digital images of wounds to measure and track healing progress, and communicated remotely via the Internet with community-based wound care specialists and a physician to provide timely wound care recommendations to patients. Importantly, this communication was transmitted over a secure network to ensure privacy and security of the patient data. OUTCOMES: Outcomes included display of the heal time of wounds, improved assessment and communication among care providers, and enhanced access to expert wound care resources. By using the technology at the point of care, RN/RPN, ET and physician users are collaborating, and all have access to evidence-based tools to promote best clinical practices. Patients have an electronic record with all past and current wound assessments, digital images of the wound, treatment records and communication among the interdisciplinary team. Overall operational effectiveness for the provider business will increase, as the pilot phase has now expanded. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing wound care technology enhances access to scarce specialized wound care resources for patients, reduces travel time in a home care environment for both the care provider and the patient, and reduces delays to treatment.
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