New Tech that Detects Infections in Elderly Wound Parents w/ Martha Kelso

In this episode of The Injured Senior Podcast, Martha Kelso is back with us again to talk about a new device that’s emerging in long-term care that recognizes infection in seniors. Martha is bedsore and pressure wound expert and the CEO of Wound Care Plus, LLC, a mobile wound care provider in the midwest. Her expertise in this field has allowed her to share her passion and knowledge with many others and she joins us on this episode to chat with host Steve Heisler. Tune in to this episode to learn all about the new exciting technology that is revolutionizing health care for seniors. 

In This Episode:

• [03:23] The problem with diagnosing infections in seniors
• [05:24] Autoimmune disorders in the elderly and the effect on infections
• [09:37] Martha speaks about the emerging device, Moleculight, that is changing long-term care for seniors
• [12:11] How physicians use the device to target and remove bacteria which helps reduce the use of antibiotics for seniors
• [19:35] Getting this technology accessible to be used across all long-term health care facilities
• [25:00] Martha shares with Steve what family members of long-term residents should look for when managing their wounds and care

Key Takeaways:

• Avoiding antibiotics in the elderly population is essential to reduce the risk of antibiotic-related side effects like confusion or developing C Diff that can be very difficult to recover from.
• The non-invasive medical device, Moleculight, is like a portable camera with a filter and takes the guesswork out of identifying infection and has a 95% reliability rate. This is a game-changer for the elderly population because they can catch infections before they become worse or septic.
• Hidden abscesses in wounds can now be detected, drained, and cleaned more easily reducing the risk for the person to be hospitalized.
• Being involved in your family member’s care is an important step in keeping them healthy and well taken care of. In today’s age, if you can’t be there in person make sure to use technology to your advantage and stay in communication with their care team.

Meet Martha Kelso

Martha Kelso is the Chief Executive Officer of Wound Care Plus, LLC, the largest mobile wound care provider in the Midwest. Her decades of experience providing advanced wound care, while being a visionary and entrepreneur in the field of mobile medicine, have allowed her to pursue a relentless passion for educating others by offering training and lecturing nationwide. Her team of wound specialists prides themselves on bringing advanced wound care and clinical excellence, supported by evidence-based medicine to the bedside clients and caregivers alike. Kelso is a published author and member of several national advisory boards. Clinical research is important to her and she has severed as principal investigator on several clinical research studies/trials. Additionally, Kelso serves as an expert witness for wound litigation cases and serves as a clinical editor for two national publications. Kelso has been a featured speaker at more than 300 educational events and is widely recognized as being a pioneer in the advanced wound care arena, working tirelessly to shape the future landscape of healthcare.