By: Dr. Rebecca Brookham, Brightshores, Director, Research & Innovation
Essential wound care being accessible to even the most remote and underserved areas will reshape the delivery of care in rural communities. Brightshores Health System (Brightshores) is focused on enhancing rural care through an innovative approach. Wound care is a significant challenge that health care systems face around the world. Limited resources, vast geographies and access to care can be challenges in rural regions that exacerbate recognition and treatment of wounds.
Brightshores Health System's Office of Research and Innovation in collaboration with leading partners including Swift Medical, Giishkaandago'Ikwe Health Services, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North at the University of Northern British Columbia, is spearheading the creation of an Advanced AI Wound Care Network, funded by DIGITAL, the Global Innovation Cluster. Swift Medical's application is a digital wound care tool that implements artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline data collection and increase access to high-quality care. Through detailed wound imaging driven by AI tools, clinicians can identify precise depth measurement, predict tissue types, and identify at-risk wounds. This technology, placed in the hands of frontline staff, can improve quality and access care.
Brightshores first began using Swift Medical's application in May 2024 in a pilot area. Within the first six months, nearly 400 patient evaluations were completed.
This fall, the technology use is being expanded as Brightshores launches the Swift application across multiple departments at all six of our hospital sites. Over 30 additional staff have been trained with the technology and identified as Super Users. This project is increasing the reach of our wound care specialists and enhancing the care that our patients receive.
“This tool engages patients in their care in a way we haven't been able to do before. Since using the Swift app, I've seen patients become more engaged and motivated with their care plan from seeing photos of their wound and having an objective measure of change - it solidified to them that their efforts are having an effect on their health and their wound outcomes," said Amber Herrington, RN, BscN IIWcc.
Brightshores clinicians are currently using the AI tool, AutoDepth. This function captures multiple smartphone images and uses AI to create a 3D model of the wound and measure visible depth. Automating the depth measurement removes the variability caused by clinicians' manual measurements and eliminates pain for the patient. This platform integrates three AI-powered technologies: SmartTissue, AutoDepth and HealingIndex.
“This app also supports care providers by giving them all relevant information about a patient's wound journey in real-time. It helps ensure consistent assessment and communication across providers in our organization," said Rebecca Brookham, Director of Research & Innovation. “For other providers in a patient's circle of care, they're able to have access to and see all relevant information about the patient's wound journey, and get useable, real-time information. This promotes continuity of care and consistent treatment across providers within our multi-site health system."
The Advanced AI Wound Care Network will empower frontline health care staff with a mobile tool capable of delivering accurate and standardized wound descriptions, which can assist in escalation and prioritization to the Nurse Specialist in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOC). Leveraging AI predictions, clinicians will be guided in their care decisions, fostering improved patient outcomes and continuity of care.