Multidisciplinary collaboration around slow-healing wounds by using a new work process and a telemedicine platform

Purpose and goal

The project team has developed, tested and evaluated a new workflow and a digital platform for multidisciplinary management of chronic wounds, in accordance with the project goal. Analyses of the collected data from the platform were conducted together with interviews with healthcare professionals to evaluate the effect and the user feedback. The project goal to reach TRL7 was fulfilled. The final product design of Dermicus Wound was established. Investigations of the regulatory requirements and the intellectual property rights have been initiated.

Expected results and effects

Clinics struggle usually of staff shortage, difficulties in internal communication and a shortage of competence in wound care. The interviews confirmed the need for a decision support system for chronic wounds. The healthcare professionals experienced improvement in collaboration and internal communication between when Dermicus was used. Furthermore, the users experienced that the platform gave support in difficult patient cases and was a stimulating educational tool, which will decrease number of unnecessary referrals and probably decrease wound healing time.

Planned approach and implementation

In the first phase, the digital platform and the clinical workflow requirements were set and developed in collaboration with skin specialists, nurses, GPs and Gnosco. In the second phase, implementation of the new clinical workflow and training of the practical use of the mobile application and platform was accomplished. In the third phase, analysis of collected data from the platform and user feedback from interviews were performed. Accordingly, the presence of a wound care team and a GP is an important factor for a successful implementation of a platform like Dermicus.