An observational study to assess an electronic point-of-care wound documentation and reporting system regarding user satisfaction and potential for improved care.

The integration of information technology into daily patient care potentially provides a means to standardize care and enable continuous quality improvement through improved communication among care teams. A 2-month observational study was conducted on 38 residents with pressure ulcers at a 51-bed skilled nursing facility to rate the Ease of Use and Wound Management Effectiveness of a point-of-care electronic wound documentation system. Nine nurses evaluated the use of handheld "smart phone" devices equipped with a digital camera to document pressure ulcer assessment and treatment at point of care.

Wound-healing outcomes using standardized assessment and care in clinical practice.

Introduction: Wound-healing outcomes applying standardized protocols have typically been measured within controlled clinical trials, not natural settings. Standardized protocols of wound care have been validated for clinical use, creating an opportunity to measure the resulting outcomes.

Purpose: Wound-healing outcomes were explored during clinical use of standardized validated protocols of care based on patient and wound assessments.