Expanding tissue viability practice through telemedicine.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Clinical Nursing
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Telemedicine facilitates remote patient care and education through electronic health information transfer.
• While established in dermatology, telemedicine adoption by tissue viability clinical nurse specialists is nascent.
• Advancements in affordable technology position telemedicine for significant future healthcare impact.

Observation:

• The application of telemedicine in tissue viability referrals is under-explored.
• Clinical nurse specialists in tissue viability have limited documented use of telemedicine referral systems.
• This article addresses the underutilization of telemedicine in specialized nursing fields.

Findings:

• Telemedicine offers an effective solution for referring patients with complex tissue viability issues.
• The authors' experience demonstrates the practical benefits of using telemedicine in this context.
• This study validates the effectiveness of technology in enhancing specialized clinical practice.

Implications:

• Implementing telemedicine can improve access to specialized care for patients with complex wounds.
• Clinical nurse specialists can leverage telemedicine to enhance patient management and outcomes.
• Further research and adoption of telemedicine are recommended to advance tissue viability care.