Posted 04 November 2020 - 09:00
Posted 04 November 2020 - 09:00
News
Wound care app could help reduce nurses’ workload
A trial of the wound-measuring app showed it helped improve wound healing time
A trial of the wound-measuring app showed it helped improve wound healing time
Nurses’ workloads can be reduced by using a wound care app, claims an NHS group.
According to Northern Care Alliance (NCA), a trial in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, found that the app helps to speed up patients’ wound care and treatment, meaning the volume of work for nurses can be reduced by up to one week per patient.
App could transform care and reduce healing time
Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale Division of Integrated Care was part of the trial.
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust divisional director of nursing and therapies Victoria Thorne said the project promises to transform the way wound care is managed.
‘The cost to the NHS of chronic wounds equals that of cancer.
‘This is a win-win situation which is good for patients as well as health professionals and carers,’ she said.
Ms Thorne added: ‘Reducing healing time for patients is vital to improving patient outcomes and this app could also reduce the need for people to come into hospital when wounds become critical.’
Accurate documentation of the healing process can be shared with colleagues
The initiative is part of the NCA’s virtual hospital project and it is working with the Greater Manchester Digital Platform programme, which has created the technology needed to share the information collected by the app.
The app has been developed by Healthy.io.
A picture is taken of the wound using a smartphone and it is then measured by the app. Subsequent assessments help determine if the wound is improving.
According to NCA, having more accurate measurements of wounds and greater visibility of the healing process can help healthcare professionals share information with team members to allow for more accurate clinical decisions.
App will be used as part of Greater Manchester Digital Platform
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale adult community services’ assistant director of nursing Sharon Hollister said the app promises to standardise assessment and treatment of wound care.
Ms Hollister said: ‘In the future, using the Greater Manchester Digital Platform, we will also be able to share progress, photos and treatment plans with other colleagues involved in the patient’s care so that everyone knows what treatment is recommended and what decisions have been made, instantly.’
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