Hard-to-heal wounds heal faster thanks to made-in-Cape Breton software

Technology developed by a small Cape Breton-based medical software company to treatwounds, burns and diabetic foot ulcers was launched internationally this week at a major health conference.

How2trakWound Care, developed byHealth Outcomes Worldwide (HOW) of New Waterford, is a software that helps standardize the assessmentand treatment of wounds, said company vice-presidentPaulTambeau.

According to its website,the company said thesoftware offers "deeper level of transparency and openness among nursing staff to monitor and correct practices" to aidthe healing of wounds. In addition to better tracking, the software allows users to upload photos to see wound healing progress.

It was introduced at the 8th Annual Abu Dhabi Wound Care Conference. It will be used bya new Global Outcomes Collaborative made up of international wound care specialists.

"This puts us onto a global stage, which is very exciting," saidTambeau.

"We have some of the most prestigious and world renowned wound care clinicians in the worldwho have joined the collaborative. So it's a real honour to be working with them and having them use our software and also putting this Cape Breton company on the world map."

Establishes standardized care of wounds

According to its website, patients cared for using the software had wounds heal faster8.9 weeks, on average, compared to wound healing in similar organizations without the software that could take as long as 60 weeks to heal.

The collaborative group will use the technology for long-distanceconsultations and research.

HOW's software will also soon be used a little closer to home.

The company is working with the VON, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the Department of Health and Wellness on plans to use the software in Cape Breton.

Software to be usedin N.S. pilot project

"We anticipate that the pilot will begin late 2017 or early 2018but timelines are not yet finalized," said Sharon Goodwin, senior vice president of home and community care withVON.

"We are looking forward to having an opportunity to test the software through the pilot. There are good opportunities to change the way wound care is delivered, and we are optimistic that there will be good learning for all of us as we roll out the pilot."

HOW has 12 full-time employees and Tambeausaid he hopes to double the workforce in a year.

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