Photography for Wound Management For the purpose of safeguarding, a request may be received to transfer patient information outside of the healthcare setting. Again refer to local policy for the correct process of transferring information securely. 4. Technical considerations for clinical photography There are various technical factors that must be considered so that Medical Illustration Departments can offer a wound photography service, which is beneficial to both the clinician and the patient. 4.1 Photographic equipment It is essential to have good quality, reliable photographic equipment, which is in a good state of repair.
A digital SLR camera of a professional or semi-professional grade is highly recommended. A fixed focal length lens with integral macro facility such as 60mm, 90mm or 100mm is useful for close-up photography of wounds. The ability to photograph subjects at 1:2 magnification is useful to show detail within a wound (or for smaller wounds, to show the entire affected area). A magnification of 1:2 will be possible with most long focal length lenses whereas some will require additional extension tubes (see 4.2 for further information on standardised magnification ratios).
A suitable flashgun and ring-flash is also recommended with the option of a flash extension cable for use off-camera to extend the flash range. The date and time embedded in the camera should be programmed correctly and checked regularly as this information is essential should the resulting photographs be required for legal purposes (this information can be verified by viewing the metadata of the image). Date and time information must be updated on all cameras at the earliest opportunity following an adjustment to the time as a result of ‘Daylight Saving Time’. If photographs are taken with the incorrect time embedded in the metadata, this should be noted within accompanying documentation.
Equipment should be transported in a hard case that can be cleaned regularly to prevent cross-infection between ward/clinics. Some Medical Illustration Departments however, use soft backpacks or shoulder bags. If departments choose to use this type of bag, they should opt for the most wipe-able bag available and one that has the fewest clasps, toggles and zips. Refer to local policy on the use of clinical photography apps and mobile devices for wound management. 4.2 Standardisation The value of clinical photography in wound management lies predominantly in the ability to achieve repeatable, comparative views over a period of time.
Standardisation of working procedures, equipment, lighting, background, viewpoint and magnification is critically important because accurate serial photographs mean that images (and therefore progression or deterioration in the condition of the wound) can be compared objectively throughout a course of treatment. It is highly recommended that medical illustration departments adhere to an agreed set of standardised magnifications clinical photography, design and video in healthcare page 11