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Service Models
A “local champion” is the key to successful service improvement.
Below local champions tell the story of their wound care service and how LUTM supports it.
Hampshire
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"For the first time in my career, LUTM means I can measure the outcome to treatment. It is easy to use and gives a high level satisfaction” |
Robin Cooper · Leg Ulcer Specialist Vascular Unit · Salisbury NHS Foundation Hospital |
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We have now used LUTM for two years and have seen over 400 patients with lower limb ulceration. Patients are very impressed with the system as they can see on an easy-to-read graph the outcome of their treatment.
We use it in two different ways.
Method One
This is used as an electronic patient record system. All patients have an assessment, treatment plan, photographs and healing graph, which are all printed and given to the patient for his / her nurse. A copy is posted to the GP. At the next appointment, wounds are measured, giving a known outcome to treatment. Feedback from community nurses has been excellent as they received prompt correspondence and meaningful information.
Method Two
We work with one GP practice using the telemedicine aspect of LUTM. All patients are referred electronically to secondary care if a vascular assessment is required. Patients are followed up electronically rather than personal contact. The community nurses can request advice via an e referral system. Over a 12 month period, the practice nurses have reduced their appointments from 700 to 450, due to the increased healing rate.
North Birmingham
HoB
The telemedicine system is an exciting innovation in leg ulcer care with endless possibilities for the future of wound care within the community. It gives essential information on the progress of a patient without having to physically see the patient and within a busy community tissue viability service where time is a key factor this has helped to save time by being able remotely view the patients progress. The system has the potential to develop further to improve outcome measures and quality outcomes which will be essential for the future |
In a resource limited NHS, any new model must achieve improved outcomes while making efficient use of the existing primary and secondary care resources. To achieve this for leg ulcer care may be as a simple as improving the communication between primary and secondary care and ensuring that experienced, competent nurses manage these patients in a intermediate clinic.
This specialist assessment unit linked to the telemedicine system and the community nursing service ensures that this communication is effective and sustained. At every level of the patients journey all health care professionals involved in the patients care can access the records and make suggestions in relation to the patients treatment.
The graph that telemedicine produces gives reassurance to the patient that the ulcer is responding to treatment. It also gives the community nurses information in relation to workload and helps then to understand when the patient is deviating from the healing pathway that action needs to be taken.
It works by producing a virtual team which consists of the community nurses, the tissue viability team linked to the intermediate leg ulcer clinic's and the vascular team within the secondary care setting.
The patient would receive accurate diagnosis and specialist treatment, close monitoring of response to treatment and enhanced communication between primary and secondary care.
The system provides a way of ensuring that the patient receives the best possible care at the right time by the most appropriate practitioner and that the patient is monitored throughout the treatment process.