Feasibility of virtual wound care: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Telemedicine
• Wound Care

Background:

• Chronic wounds affect numerous patients, necessitating specialized care.
• Access to expert wound care teams can be limited in remote or underserved areas.
• Traditional consultation methods may involve delays and logistical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a Web-based telemedicine program for remote wound care consultations.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary wound care team utilizing a store-forward approach.
• To determine patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine-based wound care.

Main Methods:

• A 9-month pilot study involving 56 patients with chronic wounds.
• Utilized Veterans Health Administration outpatient clinics and the Veterans Affairs Computerized Patient Record System.
• Employed a store-forward telemedicine approach for consultations between remote nurses and a central multidisciplinary team.

Main Results:

• 76% of treated chronic wounds showed a decrease in size.
• The average response time for consultations was 2.61 days.
• Patient satisfaction was high (98.2%), with referring providers also reporting significant satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Web-based telemedicine is a feasible method for providing remote wound care consultations.
• A multidisciplinary team using a store-forward approach can effectively manage chronic wounds in remote settings.
• Telemedicine enhances access to specialized wound care, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.