Engels D, Austin M, Doty S, Sanders K, McNichol L, et al.
Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy an.... Date of publication 2020 Sep 1;volume 47(5):450-455.
1. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2020 Sep/Oct;47(5):450-455. doi:
10.1097/WON.0000000000000697.
Broadening Our Bandwidth: A Multiple Case Report of Expanded Use of Telehealth
Technology to Perform Wound Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Engels D(1), Austin M, Doty S, Sanders K, McNichol L.
Author information:
(1)Dawn Engels, MSN, RN, CNS, CWOCN, CWCN-AP, Clinical Nursing Support, Cone
Health, Greensboro, North Carolina. Melody Austin, MSN, RN, CNS, CWOCN, CWON-AP,
Clinical Nursing Support, Cone Health, Greensboro, North Carolina. Sherry Doty,
MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CWOCN, CHC, Clinical Nursing Support, Cone Health, Greensboro,
North Carolina. Karen Sanders, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CWON, Clinical Nursing Support,
Cone Health, Greensboro, North Carolina. Laurie McNichol, MSN, RN, CNS, GNP,
CWOCN, CWON-AP, FAAN, Clinical Nursing Support, Cone Health, Greensboro, North
Carolina.
BACKGROUND: Managing patients during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic, and the associated severe acute respiratory syndrome-related
coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in particular, required the nimble responsiveness for
which WOC nurses are known. Problem-solving skills were needed to continue the
level of WOC nursing services expected by patients, families, and professional
colleagues, while reducing the hours we were physically present at our clinical
facility. In order to respond to these demands, our team realized it must create
an innovative approach to provide efficient, cost-effective consultations during
this global crisis. This Challenges in Practice article summarizes our experience
with use of telemedicine technologies to perform remote consultations within the
acute care setting.
CASES: Case 1 was a 52-year-old woman with a history of paraplegia. She had
several pressure injuries but had not received topical care for these wounds
prior to admission. A consultation for the WOC nurse was requested and performed
via telehealth services on a day our team was working off-site. This case
illustrates the process our team used to perform a virtual consultation and
demonstrates how the use of images placed in the electronic medical record aided
in developing an effective plan of care. Case 2 was a 48-year-old man who tested
positive for COVID-19. He developed bilateral unstageable pressure injuries on
his cheeks after being placed in the prone position for a prolonged period while
critically ill. This case describes multiple technologic platforms used for
telemedicine consults in a patient with COVID-19 requiring isolation.
CONCLUSIONS: Remote consultation by WOC nurses was possible in our healthcare
system because of previous experience using telemedicine technology and
well-established collaborative relationships with providers and bedside nurses.
By expanding our use of telemedicine technology, we were able to provide ongoing
care to a patient without COVID-19 who had WOC consultation needs, and a patient
with strict isolation demands due to COVID-19.
DOI: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000697
PMCID: PMC7722285
PMID: 32970030 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
