Aim
The MMEx Diabetes Foot risk calculator was designed in response to the Health Networks Branch of the WA Department of Health’s High Risk Foot Model of Care1 to improve the systematic approach to screening and treatment for high risk foot complications and the 2011 National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Evidence-Based Guideline on Prevention, Identification and Management of Foot Complications in Diabetes2 (NHMRC Guidelines) that state, “a solution to the current impasse on the integration of decision support tools into medical software is needed urgently”
Method
The electronic diabetes foot risk calculator has been developed as collaboration between the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health and the University of Western Australia Centre for Software Practice. The design of the software was based on the evidence based foot risk stratification described in the 2011 NHMRC Guidelines. This design was coupled with a risk calculator, as currently used in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Results
The MMEx Diabetes Foot risk calculator has been piloted and modified based upon input from a number of service providers from different disciplines, and is now available in MMEx, a clinical information system for primary care. A study to validate the tool is in progress.
Conclusion
Electronic decision support tools in cardiovascular disease have shown that a tool that enabled a systematic approach to care resulted in improved practitioner performance, better communication and improves cardiovascular risk management. A diabetes foot assessment tool and risk calculator offers similar opportunities to improve diabetic foot risk management in Australia.