title: Teledermatological monitoring of leg ulcers in cooperation with home care nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the feasibility and acceptance of teledermatology for wound management for patients with leg ulcers by home care nurses and evaluate the reduction of costs and the acceptance of teledermatology by patients and home care nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series of telemonitored patients with leg ulcers including cost-effectiveness analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Home monitoring by home care nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with 45 leg ulcers of different origin were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  After an initial outpatient visit when the leg ulcers were assessed and classified, teledermatological follow-up was done by home care nurses. Relevant clinical information and 1 to 4 digital images of the wound and surrounding skin were transmitted weekly via a secure Web site to an expert at the wound care center, who assessed the wound and made therapeutic recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 707 images transmitted for teleconsultation, in 644 (89%) the quality of the images was excellent or sufficient and the experts were confident in giving therapeutic recommendations. Of the 45 ulcers, 32 (71%) decreased in size and 14 (31%) healed completely, whereas 10 of the 45 ulcers (22%) increased slightly in size despite the teledermatological monitoring. In 3 ulcers (7%), no measurement was possible owing to the overly large size of the ulcers. The acceptance of telemedicine was very good by most patients. Of 15 home care nurses working in the district, 7 were very satisfied with teledermatological monitoring of wound care. There was a reduction of 46% in transportation costs for the insurance companies as well as for the patients owing to a significant decrease in the number of visits to general physicians or the wound care center.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acceptance of teledermatological monitoring of wound care was very high by patients, home care nurses, and wound experts. Decreased health care costs by reducing the number of visits to wound care centers or specialist physicians and improvement in quality of life for patients with leg ulcers using telemedicine seems possible. Teledermatology offers great potential for long-term wound care.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Research Unit of Teledermatology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Binder
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Hofmann-Wellenhof
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Salmhofer
authors: Aslihan
authors: A
authors: Okcu
authors: Helmut
authors: H
authors: Kerl
authors: H Peter
authors: HP
authors: Soyer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D019114:Remote Consultation; D017216:Telemedicine