An innovative imaging technology, which enables patients to securely and remotely share images of rashes, wounds and other skin conditions with clinicians digitally, is set to be rolled out across North West London.
A pilot programme ran by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust during the Covid-19 pandemic saw that the tool was successful in allowing patients to reduce the amount of times they had to go into the hospital without negatively impacting the care that they received.
The innovative ISLA technology was introduced by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s Dermatology, Burns and Pain Management teams and was well received by clinicians and patients alike.
In a time when there was social distancing measures and restrictions were being imposed on hospital visits, the technology allowed regular virtual contact and communication to be maintained between patients and their clinical teams.
The success of the pilot programme saw the technology being rapidly adopted across the trust already.
The partnership which brought the technology to the NHS trust was as part of the CW Innovation programme, a joint initiative between Chelsea and Westminster NHS FT and its charity CW+ to ‘test and scale’ innovative technologies and digital systems which improve patient care and experience.
Dr Gayathri Perera, Consultant Dermatologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “ISLA technology has hugely impacted the way we’ve delivered care.
“With a direct line of communication with patients, who are able to share visual updates and discuss symptoms from home, we can agree a treatment pathway together, easily and transparently.
“Digital platforms like this are great examples of how remote care has been, and will continue to be, reshaped as a result of the pandemic.”
