Combining negative pressure wound therapy with remote monitoring and the support of a virtual therapy specialist helped three patients manage their wounds post-discharge.
A pilot study published in Wounds showed that virtual specialists significantly increased adherence to treatment plans and the time spent connected to devices. The pilot included three patients: a 72-year-old woman with a recalcitrant abdominal wound, a complex treatment plan and no home health assistance; a 57-year-old woman with a surgical site infection who had clinical support at home; and a 53-year-old woman with a dehisced hysterectomy wound who wanted to resume work.
Communication happened during welcome calls, as needed for patient education or to assist a family caregiver or aid, or in response to alarms for machine troubleshooting.
In the case of the third patient, the specialist advised her on managing NPWT in the workplace discreetly.
“A RTM-equipped NPWT unit used as a just-in-time adaptive intervention is a feasible option to promote patient adherence to therapy, which could effectively reduce healthcare costs,” the researchers reported.
From the October 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
