Being better able to manage wounds is one of the more important, yet perhaps less appreciated, aspects of healthcare today, but when patients are discharged, they are often left to their own devices in this regard, which can result in infections and complications emerging.

A new paper from McGill University Health Centre highlights the potential for an app to help patients perform wound care more effectively.  The app, called Swift Skin and Wound, aims to accurately measure and chart the progression of your wound.  It’s currently being used by healthcare professionals at McGill, and the paper documents their experiences.

The paper reveals that doctors are very happy with what the app provides, as it allows patients to clearly document and quantify the size of the ulcer, and therefore to ensure it’s really healing as it should be.

Better wound care

The paper reveals that the app was able to provide accurate measurements of the wound that were consistent with those taken manually by a ruler.  What’s more, they were also comparable to those taken by a digital measurement tool known as a digital planimeter.  What the app provides that these tools don’t however, is the ability to share information about the wound and track the progress of the wound over time.

What’s more, it also allows wound care to be managed remotely, so patients can keep doctors updated on the progress of their wound on a regular basis without requiring frequent trips to the clinic.  The researchers believe it will be crucial as technologies such as telehealth develop in future.

“The app allows different health care workers to collect images and data from each patient and to follow the wound over time, something which is very important in the Northern regions, where there is a high turnover of staff,” the researchers say.

The app is currently being used by over 1,000 healthcare facilities across North America, which collectively means over 100,000 patients are using it to monitor wounds.  It’s a nice sign of how technology can make vital tasks that bit more efficient and effective.