title: Patient-centered wound teleconsultation for cutaneous wounds: a feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of patient-centered teleconsultation for various cutaneous wounds by using store-and-forward technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2011 to November 2011, 53 patients with various wound conditions were enrolled in this study. The patients took their own wound images shortly before face-to-face consultations with a plastic surgeon, and the images were sent via e-mail to another 3 remote plastic surgeons along with brief medical information. All 4 surgeons completed a standard questionnaire individually, which addressed questions regarding the presence of wound conditions (gangrene, necrosis, erythema, and cellulitis/infection), as well as suggested clinical treatment with antibiotics and debridement. The evaluations were compared among the 3 remote surgeons as well as the remote and onsite surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 53 wounds included in our study exhibited different causative mechanisms and locations on the body. The concordances between the remote and onsite surgeons were 92%, 79%, 83%, and 85% regarding the presence of gangrene, necrosis, erythema, and cellulitis/infection, respectively. The agreement rates regarding the treatment suggestion with antibiotic use and debridement between the remote surgeons and the onsite surgeon were both 83%. The remote surgeons reported high specificity, at least 84%, in all parameters of wound descriptions or treatment suggestions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient-centered teleconsultation system based on store-and-forward technology is a feasible tool for wound management, and it shows promises in future clinical applications by decreasing clinic visits.
authors: From the *Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine; †Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei; ‡National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin; and §National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Hsuan
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Tai-Horng
authors: TH
authors: Young
authors: Chieh-Huei
authors: CH
authors: Huang
authors: Hui-Hsiu
authors: HH
authors: Chang
authors: Chien-Liang
authors: CL
authors: Chen
authors: Hsiung-Fei
authors: HF
authors: Chien
authors: Jin-Shing
authors: JS
authors: Chen
authors: Hong-Shiee
authors: HS
authors: Lai
authors: Nai-Chen
authors: NC
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult