Patient Engagement and ADHERANCE in Wound Care with SnapshotNIR
One of the most difficult aspects of patient care, especially in the wound care setting, is non-adherence Even the best treatment protocols can be unsuccessful if the patient does not follow the recommendations put forth by their clinician and refuses to become engaged in their treatment plan. Most patients suffering from chronic wounds often have additional comorbidities. Neglect in wound management can very likely lead to more serious wounds. These wounds may take longer to heal, are more time-consuming and expensive to treat, and could lead to an increased rate of amputation. When a patient is already declining in health, a chronic wound makes for an even more frustrating and complex case.
To add to this complexity, wounds can be very deceiving and underlying causes must be addressed first before wound healing can progress. What is happening below the surface cannot always be seen with the naked eye.
SnapshotNIR is a handheld medical device that is making things a little easier for wound care specialists. Using near-infrared spectroscopy to image tissue oxygenation and perfusion, Snapshot helps patients to “see” their own wound healing progression thereby increasing the odds of adherence and engagement. SnapshotNIR is a lightweight, point-of-care imaging device with a user-friendly interface that accurately measures tissue oxygenation at the microvascular level.
For the physicians who have incorporated SnapshotNIR into their practice, one of the most compelling attributes of the device is how helpful it can be in assessing both oxygenation and the healing capacity of the tissue. It is also beneficial when explaining to patients and colleagues why a certain treatment plan is the way to go.
Dr. Duane Cumberbatch — a podiatrist who specializes in advanced wound care and limb preservation in Fort Myers, Florida — obtained the device for his practice in early 2021 and has since made it an important part of his diagnostic tool kit.
“I use SnapshotNIR for any patient who has a wound, or any kind of circulation issue or concern. It’s such a helpful device for both me and my patients, in that it really lets us see what’s going on beneath the wound’s surface,” says Dr. Cumberbatch.
Dr. Cumberbatch with his SnapshotNIR
A challenge for many medical experts who specialize in advanced wound care is having to temper a patient’s desire to heal quickly. Dr. Cumberbatch shares, “There’s usually no magic bullet, no quick solution that’s going to cheat the patient’s time to be healed. That’s why it’s so important for patients to understand that treatment is a process, and you have to stick with it. SnapshotNIR helps with this challenge — it tracks the healing in a clear way, showing the pictures of improvement and increasing a patient’s willingness to keep going.”
An example of where patient compliance can be a difficult task is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). When patient adherence in HBOT is a challenge, the actionable data captured with SnapshotNIR can effectively demonstrate to the patient the improvement in tissue health following each series of dives. The images obtained not only help to qualify a patient for hyperbaric oxygen treatments but also clearly document the ongoing therapeutic efficacy. Snapshot also aids in keeping patients engaged and committed to the treatment program by visually showing improvements. When a treatment plan is a 2-hour dive every day for the prescribed number of sessions, this commitment is significant. When a patient can see the progress below the surface, they are more likely to comply with the rigorous course of treatment.
This technology is unique and extremely valuable. It’s starting to change the way clinicians treat both acute and chronic wounds with actionable insights they never had before. Not only is that invaluable to the clinician but the ability to communicate to the patient what is happening and how they can better participate in the healing of their own wounds is very impactful. Without patient adherence, the success of treating wounds can falter. SnapshotNIR is helping to change that.
“I specifically wanted to include Kent’s SnapshotNIR device at the event because I’ve found that when you bring technology into the mix, people are intrigued. I wanted to have technology to not only inform and educate but wow them as well.” – Frank Aviles, PT., Save a Leg Save a Life Foundation
To read the full profile on Dr. Duane Cumberbatch and how he is improving outcomes for his patients with SnapshotNIR, read the customer story, here.
For more information on the use of SnapshotNIR in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, read the blog, How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Assist the Wound Healing Process, here.
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