During the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) Congress from March 1-5, 2022, we are proud that Cape Breton University’s own Dr. Corrine McIsaac has been invited to conduct three presentations on her research in wound care. The Congress, which was originally set to take place in September 2020, takes place every four years and attracts the biggest and brightest participants worldwide to discuss the most important topics and advances in wound care. It will include more than 100 sessions held by international experts from more than 50 different countries, all of which are spearheading wound healing research.
Dr. McIsaac is an Associate Nursing Professor in CBU’s School of Education and Health (Nursing) with a focus on skin and wound care. Since arriving at CBU 21 years ago, Dr. McIsaac’s research has focused on wound care, outcome measurement, data analytics and visualization, health systems and community-based interventions.
“My passion has been to improve the Canadian healthcare system through evidence-based-outcomes – to improve care, lower costs and increase quality of life for patients across the country, particularly those who live with chronic wounds,” shares Dr. McIsaac.
Dr. McIsaac’s first presentation is called, “The importance of post-discharge surveillance in understanding surgical wound complications,” where she will discuss why post-discharge surveillance is needed, the importance of standardized data collection tools and processes, and how technology enables improved patient care post-operatively. More information on this research can be found here.
Dr. McIsaac’s second presentation titled, “Using telehealth and technology to track, measure and drive outcomes,” will detail experiences with colleagues that use the how2trak wound management application developed by her and her team. This presentation will specifically focus on the Ottawa Hospital experience and how they have been able to improve patient outcomes by using telehealth and technology. More on this research can be found here.
Dr. McIsaac’s third presentation will focus on “Using technology to accurately track and measure patient and economic outcomes.” Dr. McIsaac has been collecting wound care data for over 15 years, and during that time has amassed the largest wound care dataset in Canada. In this presentation, Dr. McIsaac will draw on this dataset to demonstrate that using technology for wound care data collection enables more information on patient care, resulting in improved healing times and lowing health care costs.
Dr. McIsaac is also the only Canadian to sit on the International Surgical Wound Complications Advisory Panel, which has been working on a consensus document this past year called “Optimizing Prevention of Surgical Wound Complications: Detection, Diagnosis and Prediction.” The document will be launched at the conference this week.
When asked what it means to her to be invited to present at such a prestigious conference, Dr. McIsaac says, “It truly is an honour to have been invited to present my research, innovation and highlight how technology and data enables better patient care. To be recognized as a Canadian expert in wound outcomes measurement and post-discharge surveillance is very rewarding.”
Dr. McIsaac also says the most exciting part of her research has been the positive impact on the lives of patients. “I receive calls from colleagues that tell me I’ve helped save another limb today,” shares Dr. McIsaac. “This is made possible when colleagues use the how2trak application as it enables more informed care at the bedside by using data and artificial intelligence in real time. This is truly what makes research and innovation so humbling and satisfying.”
We are so proud of the important research being conducted by our faculty members each and everyday. On behalf of Cape Breton University, Congratulations Dr. McIsaac!