Page 44 - Retail Pharmacy March 2021

42 HEALTH WOUND CARE FROM PAGE 41 Different levels of pressure injury are grouped in five, increasingly severe stages. These can be found in the guide referenced earlier in this feature. With more serious wounds, it can be difficult to select an appropriate dressing. This is something recognised by wound care supplier Smith and Nephew, whose Pharmacy Channel Manager ANZ Bradley Miller spoke with Retail Pharmacy regarding the latest resources to support those treating wounds in community pharmacy. “We were looking at a way to help pharmacists when customers come into the store with an injury.” he said. “Generally, these are acute wounds, but can include chronic wounds such as pressure injuries, too – everything including cuts, grazes and even minor burns, where the health professional can see the wound and they know what treatment to provide, such as applying a waterproof dressing. “However, while they know the type of treatment needed, the challenge becomes: how do they measure the size of the wound and use that knowledge to select the appropriate dressing size? “I’ve been in stores many times where they’ll pull out a single dressing, or they’ll look at the back of the retail box and try to measure the pad, and we knew there had to be a better way. “After working with a third party specialising in this field, we’ve created a virtual reality app to solve the problem. “Using a calibrated tablet or iPad, the dressing the pharmacist picks will appear on screen, and the iPad will measure the appropriate distance it needs to be away from the patient using on-screen instructions. Having got the size and the distance from the patient so the dressing is proportionate to the body part, it changes to a green colour. “This signifies to the pharmacist, for example, that they currently have a 6.5mm by 5.5mm dressing, where the graze is only just being covered by that pad, indicating they need to go up one size.” “Enabling patient independence at this crucial time in our healthcare journey is to be encouraged.” Mr Miller says the app will also identify a suitable skin feature or blemish, such as a freckle, to use in assisting the pharmacist when positioning the dressing, thereby ensuring the centre of the wound is as close as possible to the centre of the pad. “Initially, the app is loaded with our 10 most commonly purchased dressings in pharmacy, based on sales,” he said. “We’ll be giving regular updates to include other products and we’re starting with a couple of sizes of fabric dressings, a couple of sizes of waterproof dressings and a foam silicon dressing, too, something often used when treating pressure injuries. “The app is intended as an aid in selecting dressing size and position, and doesn’t offer any medical advice, which is the most important role of the health professional. With many wound care products so highly specialised, we strongly recommend that products for chronic wounds are used in consultation with a healthcare professional. This is something we always advocate.” According to Mr Miller, after having that consultation with a healthcare professional, such as a GP, a trained wound clinician or pharmacist, and assuming that professional is comfortable with the patient or carer self-managing chronic wounds under their guidance, a lot of people are choosing to stay out of aged care facilities and engage less external help, which limits the risk of unnecessary exposure to Covid. With the elderly currently making an extra effort to avoid exposure to the virus, any product supporting pharmacists in their treatment of patients who might otherwise be forced into high-risk environments is going to be well received. There are examples of innovative and timely new products in the accompanying ‘Expand Your Range’ section, including the new silicon tapes to reduce shear or even manage the chaffing of a mask’s elastic around the ears. Enabling patient independence at this crucial time in our healthcare journey is to be encouraged, and it’s good to see innovations appearing in the wound care category supporting that goal. S+N VR Dressings A virtual reality app that helps you select the right dressing size. Search VR Dressings How do you select the right dressing size for a wound? smith-nephew.com/pharmacy For accurate size representation, hold device 23cm from wound. For further information consult your pharmacist. Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional. Smith & Nephew Pty Ltd Australia T +61 2 9857 3999 F +61 2 9857 3900 Smith & Nephew Ltd New Zealand T +64 9 820 2840 F +64 9 820 2841 ◊Trademark of Smith & Nephew. All trademarks acknowledged. SN14849 REV0 03/20. SN14849 Pharmacy VR App Flyer.indd 3 RETAIL PHARMACY • MAR 2021 2/02/2021 3:03:39 PM