Personal wireless device use for wound care consultation a review of safety, clinical benefits, and guidelines

The purpose of this report is to review the available evidence on the clinical benefits and safety of personal wireless devices for wound care consultation and guidelines on the use these devices for wound care consultation

Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: [Ottawa] Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health 2014, 16 May 2014
Series:Rapid response report: summary with critical appraisal
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:The purpose of this report is to review the available evidence on the clinical benefits and safety of personal wireless devices for wound care consultation and guidelines on the use these devices for wound care consultation
Teledermatology consultation has been shown to be reliable and comparable to conventional clinic-based care. Imaging of the wound, uploading images and transferring them to the appropriate location play an important role in wound care involving telemedicine. The advent of high resolution digital cameras, computer technology, and specialized software has revolutionized the process of documentation of wounds. In recent times, personal wireless devices such as mobile phones are increasingly being used as a telemedicine technology. Mobile phones now have in-built cameras and data transfer capabilities and are often referred to as smartphones. The transmission of medical images and other data over mobile phone networks may facilitate remote medical consultations with specialists and enhance wound care management. However the safety and clinical efficacy of this modality of care needs to be assessed before it may be put in to widespread use.
Wounds may result from physical, mechanical, or thermal damage, or develop from an underlying medical disorder and include conditions such as pressure ulcers, lacerations, burns, arterial or venous ulcers, and dermatological disorders. Wound care involves accurate assessment and appropriate management strategies and may require specialist consultations which may not always be easily accessible or may be time consuming. Telemedicine offers an alternative option. It is the delivery of health care through telecommunication between the patient with or without the local health care provider and remotely situated specialists. Technology used for telemedicine can range from a simple telephone conversation with the health care provider to complex systems with elaborate consultations with remote specialists at various locations, through live audio or videoconferencing. Telemedicine has been used in various clinical areas such as psychiatry, ophthalmology, and dermatology.
Item Description:Title from PDF caption title
Physical Description:1 PDF file (23 pages) illustrations