Patients gave universally positive feedback about the app’s ease of use and the ability to have wounds monitored
A new smartphone app called WoundCare is successfully enabling patients to remotely send images of their surgical wounds for monitoring by nurses. The app was developed by researchers from the Wisconsin Institute of Surgical Outcomes Research (WiSOR), Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, with the goal of earlier detection of surgical site infections (SSIs) and prevention of hospital readmissions. The study results appear as an “article in press” on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.
SSIs are the most common hospital-acquired infection and the leading cause of hospital readmission following an operation.1,2,3 Due to the prevalence off SSIs, the WiSOR research team decided to see if postoperative wound monitoring could be effectively achieved by having patients upload photos through the WoundCare app and answer a few brief questions to gather information not easily captured through images.
“Patients cannot identify [infections] and frequently ignore or fail to recognize the early signs of cellulitis or other wound complications,” study authors wrote. “This drawback leads to the common and frustrating scenario where patients present to a routine, scheduled clinic appointment with an advanced wound complication that requires readmission, with or without reoperation. However, the complication may have been amenable to outpatient management if detected earlier.”
Forty vascular surgery patients were enrolled in the study. There was an overall data submission rate of 90.2 percent among participants, and submissions were reviewed within an average of 9.7 hours. During the study, seven wound complications were detected and one false negative was found.
“We set out to come up with a protocol where patients could become active participants in their care and allow us to be in closer communication and monitor their wounds after they leave the hospital,” said lead study author and general surgery resident Rebecca L. Gunter, MD. . “This approach allows us to intervene at an earlier time rather than waiting for patients to come back in after the problem has already developed past the point of being able to manage it on an outpatient basis.”
Patients were enthusiastic about the app’s ease of use and the reassurance they felt having their wounds regularly monitored. The nurse practitioners responsible for reviewing the submitted images attested to the value of the photos and patient satisfaction, although they also noted it was difficult to find time to review the submitted images on top of an already heavy clinical workload. Study authors note that the success and sustainability of a post-discharge wound-monitoring protocol requires a dedicated transitional care program and not simply adding a task to the current staff workload.
This protocol also has a cost-savings component, in addition to the patient safety and satisfaction aspects. Study authors note that SSIs are the most expensive hospital-acquired infection, costing an average of nearly $30,000 per wound-related readmission and an estimated $3-10 billion annually.
“If you could imagine saving the cost from the number of patients whose readmission you were able to prevent, that result could provide significant savings to the health system,” Dr. Gunter said. Although capturing specific numbers related to cost-savings was not part of this study, Dr. Gunter said it is an important area of focus for future studies.
A limitation to telemedicine protocols that call for the use of smartphones is that not every patient has the necessary technology or knowledge to upload images on their own. The WiSOR research team addressed this issue by having participants undergo tailored training to learn to use the WoundCheck app. They provided each patient with an iPhone 5S and an accompanying visual reference guide to further assist in using the phone and app. Dr. Gunter said they were very successful in giving patients knowledge and access to technology so they could participate in the study. She said this is a model easily adaptable to other medical centers, whether through providing participants with a phone, having a rotating supply of phones at the hospitals for patients to borrow, or relying on a patient’s personal device.
“We have demonstrated that a population of complex and high-risk patients, many of whom are older adults and novice smartphone users, can complete this protocol with high fidelity and satisfaction,” the researchers concluded.
Learn more:Â Postoperative Wound Monitoring App Can Reduce Readmissions and Improve Patient Care
The Latest on: Wound monitoring
[google_news title=”” keyword=”wound monitoring” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Wound monitoring
- Myanmar rocket attack kills four, wounds military cadetson April 15, 2024 at 5:08 am
Myanmar's military authorities condemned the attack in the central town of Pyin Oo Lwin as targeting civilians ...
- Governor: Russian aerial bomb attack kills 1, wounds 2 in Donetsk Oblaston April 14, 2024 at 7:11 am
The attack hit a five-story building in the village of Ocheretyne, located a half-and-an-hour drive northwest of Russian-occupied Avdiivka.
- Massive genocide trial reopens old wounds in Guatemala, 40 years after indigenous slaughteron April 13, 2024 at 10:02 am
Juan Brito López was in his mid-20s when soldiers rushed into his home in the village of Pexla, nestled in Guatemala’s western highlands. He escaped, hiding in the wilderness, but could not save his ...
- Methodist Fremont wound care center recognized as among best nationwideon April 10, 2024 at 4:00 am
The Fremont Methodist Health Center for Wound Healing was recently recognized by an industry leader as one of the top wound care centers in the country.
- WMU nursing students lead hospital study that could change future of pressure-wound monitoringon April 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—An innovative effort is underway to better detect and prevent pressure wounds at Ascension Borgess Hospital, and Western Michigan University nursing students are leading the charge.
- Roadside bomb in southwestern Syria kills 7 children and wounds 2 otherson April 6, 2024 at 3:33 am
But Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights accused a pro-government militia of planting the bomb in an assassination attempt, without giving further details. It says at ...
- Roadside bomb in southwestern Syria kills 7 children and wounds 2 otherson April 6, 2024 at 12:32 am
A roadside bomb has detonated in southwestern Syria, killing at least seven children, state media and a war monitor reported DAMASCUS, Syria -- A roadside bomb detonated Saturday in southwestern Syria ...
- Bombing kills co-founder of Syria's main al-Qaida-linked group Nusra Fronton April 4, 2024 at 6:05 pm
A suicide bomber set off his explosives late on Thursday in northwestern Syria, killing the co-founder of the country's main al-Qaida-linked group that controls much of the northwest, a war monitor ...
- Derek the Dog recovering from gunshot wounds after being helped by Cherokee County Sheriffon April 4, 2024 at 2:55 pm
A pup was found by a sheriff in Cherokee County on the side of the road near Quimby, Iowa, and was in critical condition until getting the care it needed with the help of Noah's Hope.
via Bing News