In the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, a recent French study published in "The Lancet Regional Health - Europe" has shown that remote wound monitoring by a specialist nurse cuts medical costs in half. In particular, by reducing the length of hospital stays, without increasing the risk of amputation.
The TELEPIED study was conducted by Dr Dured DARDARI and his colleagues at the Centre Hospitalier Sud Francilien(CHSF) in Corbeil-Essonnes, with support from CERIDT. The team tested a new monitoring method for diabetic patients suffering from foot ulcers, carried out by a nurse expert in the care of diabetic patients.
In this study, 180 patients were recruited. Although all patients received standard home care, they were divided into two randomized groups. The first group received traditional treatment, with regular visits to the hospital, while the second group was cared for by tele-monitored IDEs. Every week, the home nurses took photos of the ulcers and sent them to the expert nurse. She analyzed them, adapted the treatment protocol if necessary, and asked the diabetologist for advice only if necessary.
The results, after one year's follow-up, show that patients monitored by telemonitoring spent fewer days in hospital (7.1 days vs. 13.4 days) and had fewer consultations with the diabetologist. This approach led to a significant reduction in medical costs, with an average annual expenditure of €3,471 for the telemonitoring group versus €7,185 for the traditional group.
In terms of clinical outcomes, there was no significant difference in ulcer healing rates or amputation rates between the two groups. However, patients undergoing telemonitoring improved their wounds more rapidly.
The study concluded that telemonitoring is as effective as traditional outpatient visits. The integration of a specialized nurse seems to have been a determining factor in these positive results. This new method could prove beneficial, particularly in areas where access to medical care is limited.
https://www.ticsante.com/Story?id=6876
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00105-9/fulltext#
