Contact:	Imke Schepers Amsterdamseweg 206 1182 HL Amstelveen 020-6000060
i.schepers|ksyos.org
Looptijd:	8 maanden
Honorering:	n.o.t.k.
Uren:

Place: KSYOS TeleMedical Centre, Amstelveen

Title: New TeleDermatology services: implementing TeleWound Monitoring in regular care systems

Introduction:
KSYOS TeleMedical Centre is one of the larger TeleMedicine providers in The Netherlands. KSYOS TeleMedical Centre develops, investigates and implements new TeleMedicine services including TeleDermatology, TeleOphtalmology, TeleCardiology and TelePulmonology. At this time over 2500 general practitioners and 500 medical specialists and paramedics in the Netherlands use KSYOS TeleMedicine in their daily practices. In dermatology, over 35.000 TeleConsultations have been performed.

TeleWound Monitoring has been introduced in two hospitals in Rotterdam in January 2008. The TeleWound Monitoring system is used to monitor the status and progress of patients with chronic leg ulcers. After an initial in-person visit at the hospital in which leg ulcers are assessed and classified, and underlying diseases noted, homecare nurses perform follow-up visits. Every four weeks, or immediately in case of wound deterioration, 1-4 digital images of the wound and relevant clinical information are transmitted via the secure web-based KSYOS portal to the dermatologist. Based on this information the dermatologist provides an assessment of the wound status and therapeutic recommendations.

Aim of the project:

This research project aims to formulate the best way of implementing TeleWound Monitoring in regular care systems. The method to answer this question is two-fold:

1. Literature review of existing studies of telemedicine solutions for the treatment of wound care patients.
2. Prospective study of the KSYOS TeleWound Monitoring system that is applied in practice in Rotterdam. Research aspects are:
   • Usability assessment of the TeleWound Monitoring system
   • Acceptance of the TeleWound Monitoring system in patients, home-care nurses and wound experts
   • Evaluation of the effect on the quality of care
   • Evaluation of the effect on the efficiency of care (preventable referrals and costs)

Period: 8 months

Place: Partly at KSYOS TeleMedical Centre in Amstelveen, partly at Sint Franciscus Hospital in Rotterdam. One day per week the student participates in KSYOS daily activities.

Starting: now

Contact:
Imke Schepers, Manager Research KSYOS TeleMedical Centre, Amstelveen, www.ksyos.org
i.schepers|ksyos:org / 020-6000060

Miriam Loots, dermatologist at the Sint Fransciscus Hospital, is involved in the Tele-Wound Monitoring project.
m|loots|sfg:nl