Information Technology and Health Care

Remote chronic wound care management

Telehealth – reducing distance the smart way

A recent study has found that digital imaging and remote expert advice are the keys to improved remote wound care management.

CUCRH nursing senior lecturer and remote area nurse practitioner Isabelle Ellis and three colleagues have conducted research into the clinical outcomes and costs of providing remote expert wound consultation. The Alfred/Medseed Wound Imaging System was used in conjunction with expert consultation in a 12-month prospective randomised trial in four sites in the Kimberley region.

A control group received standard wound care management for leg and foot ulcers. The intervention group had their digital records transmitted to Perth every two weeks for remote review by a wound care consultant with wound management advice provided to the treating clinician.

Findings from the study provide early evidence of the clinical and cost effectiveness of the intervention. There was a positive healing rate as opposed to a negative one in the control, 5 fewer amputations and $191K lower costs in the intervention group.

The study has been reported in Primary Intention: The Australian Journal of Wound Management  (2004), 12 (2) 62-70.

Use of information technology in aged care

In a follow-up to the wound care research, a clinical trial of the use of information technology in aged care using the Pressure Ulcer Research, Intervention, Management and Evaluation or PRIME system is being implemented. The 12-month project is headed up by Nick Santamaria of University of Melbourne with partners from Silver Chain, University of South Australia and CUCRH. It has been funded by Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Preliminary findings have been report in Primary Intention: The Australian Journal of Wound Management. (2005, 13(2):107-116.

Podiatry and tele-wound care

Comprehensive management of lower limb ulcers often require the expertise of podiatry.  Local podiatrist and Curtin masters student Peter Manuel conducted a pilot to explore the effectiveness of remote podiatry consultations.  His study also used the Alfred/Medseed Wound Imaging System and was supported through a CUCRH Research Fellowship.  Read more about it here.

Supporting rural carers using videoconferencing

Like other carers of loved ones, rural carers frequently experience guilt, frustration and stress.  Penny van Ast, telehealth coordinator in the Midwest and Murchison championed a series of videoconferenced education and support sessions offered to rural communities.  As a CUCRH fellow she evaluated the program and found that it resulted in great benefits to carers and to local services.  The technology proved to be an asset by adding the sharing of experiences and information between peers at a very low cost.  Read more about it here.