OBJECTIVES: Pressure ulcers (PU) pose significant challenges that require innovative prevention and management strategies. Telemedicine has gained prominence, enabling specialized and individualized treatment, particularly in home care settings. This study aimed to implement a remote monitoring program using mobile technology to collect data on PU, allowing remote patient evaluation from home by four Integrated Continuing Care Teams (ICCTs) with primary care and wound management experts. An accessible mobile device/app was used for PU assessment by primary care nurses.

METHODS: We did an observational prospective study and collected images and other relevant information at home for full remote evaluation, easing the consultation workflow by a wound management expert nurse. The endpoints were admission days in ICCT, patient discharge rates, average number of PUs per patient, proportion of PU improved and proportion of patients without PU risk assessment.

RESULTS: We analysed 27 patients with an average age of 81±7.5 years, 63% were females and were admitted for a median of 200 days (95% Confidence Interval=[59,NE]). During the study period, three patients were discharged (11.1%). A total of 59 PUs were monitored for an average period of 37.5±28.2 days, with an interval of 13.3±9.1 days between assessments. The mean change from baseline in the dimension of the PUs was -13.7±16.5 and the improvement rate was high reaching 97% of the PUs. On average, patients had 2.6±2.2 PUs, with hip, sacrum, and heel being the common places. The results showed 39.6% and 71.4% of patients without risk of PU assessment in the first and second month of admission in ICCT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Implementing remote monitoring of PU by integrated continuing care teams allows for optimisation of clinical outcomes and underscores the potential for nationwide upscaling of this procedure.