Medical care is advancing towards a holistic approach, which revolves around the patients whenever appropriate. Digital tools are contributing greatly to this success and progression. Healico, is an innovative smartphone application that helps doctors in improving wound care.
Helico saves and organizes pictures of wounds. It also records all the clinical-patient-related data. This allows the healthcare workers to see the evolution of the wounds of their patients, in addition to sharing the information with the members of the wound-care team. Moreover, Helico has a chat section that can help in direct and fast communication whenever there is an emergency. It also provides access to a training guide for those who require it.
Wound-Care Application
Healico is a wound-care application that centralizes all the information about the wound, sharing it among the team.
The smartphone application received the prestigious Prix Galien in France because it is a scientific innovation. In 2022, after nine months, 3800 healthcare professionals downloaded it in France and Germany.
Prevents Diabetic Amputation
Researchers did a pilot trial in Spain among eleven healthcare professionals from six primary care centres. It included two hospitals and two sociosanitary centres. After downloading the application, healthcare workers got training on how they can use the Healico. They started recording the information about their patients’ wounds.
Diabetic foot ulcer was one of the recordings, which is the most serious complication in patients with diabetes. Moreover, lower limb amputation is inevitable. The estimate is that more than five million people have diabetes and around twenty percent will have an amputation if the doctors fail to prevent it in time.
According to research ninety percent of the lower extremity amputations due to diabetic feet are preventable. But it is usually never possible because a diabetic foot ulcer gets a very late referral for expert assessment. Hence it results in amputations. Moreover, it is also very expensive for most patients, which has a negative impact on their health.
Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer
The successful treatment of diabetic foot ulcers includes sufficient blood supply assurance, controlling the glucose level of the blood, local care, and management of the systemic infection. Hence, a multidisciplinary approach is best, which comprises good coordination between healthcare workers.
Health centres are the contact points for diabetic foot ulcers, so it is necessary that the patients at higher risk are referred immediately. This can avoid amputation and be an effective method of coordination between primary care centres and hospitals.
Case Report of Healico
Healico was used successfully in avoiding diabetic foot amputation in a 65-year-old patient. The main reason behind lower limb amputation is diabetic foot ulcers in most patients in Spain. It impacts the quality of life of patients in a negative way.
A multidisciplinary approach is needed for good coordination between healthcare centres and hospitals. Healico helped in an immediate referral of severe clinical infection and the doctors treated it quickly. The patient went through surgery, and it prevented the excision of the foot.
Healico Application
The fast communication between the primary care and hospital staff through the app helped in the early facilitation of the patient. The patient was referred to the hospital within forty-eight hours. It enabled the diagnosis of an infection in the bone, scheduling surgery after eighteen days. The adaptive systemic treatment solved the issue in less than two weeks, saving the structure of the foot.
Clinical Demonstration
The clinical demonstration of the Healico application depicts how useful it is to have coordination between healthcare settings. This application is very helpful in preventing foot ulcers in people with diabetes. It facilitates the early diagnosis and intervention. Furthermore, it has a positive impact on the quality of life of the patients.
What are the limitations of Healico?
The integration of the system is one of the biggest limitations because it requires training. Non-digitally native healthcare workers will not be comfortable using this technology. However, the benefits are more than the difficulties. The interface is very intuitive, and the advisory board is also satisfied with it, rating it 9/10.
Widespread Adoption
Widespread adoption of Healico will require more research on populations that are bigger. It will demonstrate the effectiveness and prevent amputations, managing other complex wounds.
The use of digital applications can help in remote assistance. Even though Healico is not available to patients, it is a very interesting thing to explore telemedicine. It has been of great benefit during COVID-19 for face-to-face assistance. It decreased the burden of healthcare workers, providing comfort and convenience.
Conclusion
Healico promoted rapid communication between hospitals and primary care centres. This enabled urgent referral of patients to specialists, resulting in the prevention of foot amputation.
Patients also became aware of the importance of adherence to treatment and care about health conditions. Complex wounds can be managed with this application, especially in cases of diabetic foot ulcers.
