Authors (including presenting author) :
Lau WH (1), Wong PH (1), Chiu SL (1), Lai ML (1), Chiu CWH (1), Leung SY (1), Louie A (2), Tam S (3), Hiu EMT (1), Choi C (2), Hiu E (1)(4)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Family Medicine, NTEC, (2) Department of Information Technology, NDH, (3) Central Nursing Division, NDH, (4) Department of Medicine & Geriatrics of Shatin Hospital, NTEC
Introduction :
It is an ongoing trend for the application of information technology in health care. Clinical photography has been widely applied in hospitals for better communication in patients’ care. However, this technology has not been applied in GOPCs due to the absence of HA Wi-Fi. Wound care is a core service in GOPCs. Accurate wound documentation is essential for communication among healthcare professionals for continuity of wound care. In fact, it is quite difficult to describe wound condition especially complicated or multiple wound sites in words. Wound photography can capture and present the details about actual condition of wound that offers a solution to the limitation of written documentation for wound description such as location, size, depth and condition of surrounding tissue. In view of the necessity to improve the wound documentation, the clinical photo album that connects to Clinical Management System was piloted in Fanling Family Medicine Centre in November 2019.
Objectives :
To enhance the reliability and accuracy of wound documentation
Methodology :
Plan-Do-Check-Act method was adopted as the management tool for implementation of clinical photo album system. A working group that consisted of nursing managements, wound nurses and frontline staff was set up to study the feasibility on the application of clinical photo album in GOPCs. The first act was to get the support from the Information Technology Team and Central Nursing Division for installation of wireless networking, software and iPad devices. Briefing of guidelines and demonstration on use of the clinical photo album apps with reference guide cue card were conducted to ensure that all nurses know how to use iPad Cam for wound photography. A survey was conducted to evaluate the application of photo album among frontline nursing staff.
Result & Outcome :
All the nurses were competent to operate iPad Cam and they were positive that clinical photography could enhance communication and continuity of wound care. It is planned that the project will be rolled out to other GOPCs in New Territories East Cluster.
