A statewide wound survey will take place in all Western Australian hospitals as part of an innovative wound management program that will greatly benefit country patients.

The survey is part of the WoundsWest project which will allow patients living in regional areas to have their burns, wounds and flesh injuries assessed by Western Australia’s top medical experts without having to travel to Perth.

Executive Sponsor of the WoundsWest project Roslyn Elmes said the survey would provide data on the prevalence of all wound categories including surgical wounds, burns, traumatic wounds, leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, skin tears, malignant wounds and others in Western Australian public health services.

“The survey will improve wound management practices in all participating hospitals by enabling them to better understand the types and treatments of wounds as well as the skills, resources and policies required to manage them,” she said.

“Participation in the survey, which is happening this month, is voluntary and will include all acute adult and paediatric inpatients present on the day.”

WoundsWest is a three-year project that aims to develop a statewide system of audit, clinical guidelines, education, electronic imaging and remote expert referral in the field of wound management.

The program will enable country GPs and nurses to send digital photographs of a patient’s wound to expert specialists in metropolitan hospitals for assessment.

“The specialist will be able to diagnose the wound by examining a clear image of it, and immediately send treatment advice back to the patient’s nurse or GP,” Ms Elmes said.

“It means that patients living in rural and regional areas who suffer a burn, flesh injury or wound can receive treatment advice from WA’s top experts without leaving their home.”

Images can be sent via mobile phone or computer to a central database, and are then distributed to the relevant medical specialist for treatment advice.

“This is the first time this type of medical treatment, which relies on simple everyday technology, has ever been used and it will save many country patients from having to travel to Perth for clinic appointments,” Ms Elmes said.

”WA is now leading the world in wound care and this program is a positive step in providing equity in health care between remote, rural and metropolitan areas.”

WoundsWest is a partnership between the Department of Health, Curtin University of Technology and Silver Chain.