A Thermidas thermal imaging system pilot and co-development was carried out at a Mehiläinen care home as part of the “Commercialization and Scaling of Digital Health Solutions: DH2” project, in the form of a four-week trial and test period. The pilot was conducted in May–June 2024.
During the pilot, 20 permanent residents of the care home were imaged. This number represents 1/3 of the total resident population. Of the 20 residents, five (5) had care decisions made based on the thermal imaging results, and three (3) of these received preventive measures against the formation of pressure ulcers. During the four-week trial and test period, care home staff became convinced of the value of thermal imaging in the prevention and monitoring of pressure ulcers, and the care home decided to procure the thermal imaging system after the pilot period.
After the Pilot
After the care home pilot, the thermal imaging system was integrated into the care home’s daily care routine in autumn 2024, at which time the care home had approximately 4–6 active pressure ulcers on an ongoing basis. After six months of use, the care home reported the number of new active pressure ulcers as 0. In autumn 2025, the situation was reviewed again, at which point the care home reported the number of new active pressure ulcers as still 0. The care home also reported that thermal imaging facilitates pain recognition and management in the care of chronic pressure ulcers and severely demented residents.
In addition to the success at the Mehiläinen care home, the pilot led to a voluntary follow-up pilot focusing on the prevention of foot problems in diabetic patients at Tesoma Health Centre, whose services are provided by Mehiläinen. The health centre is part of the Tesoma Wellbeing Alliance, and the pilot is led by specialist physician in general medicine Atte Vadén and Thermidas Oy. The pilot aims to integrate thermal imaging into the basic care of diabetic patients, meaning that the feet of all diabetic patients at Tesoma will be imaged during routine visits. The purpose of the pilot is to assess how effectively foot problems in diabetic patients could be prevented if thermal imaging is used in their care already at the primary healthcare level rather than in specialised care. The pilot was started in autumn 2024 and is estimated to last approximately 2 years.
Summary
Thanks to the thermal imaging pilot conducted by the Tesoma Wellbeing Alliance, Mehiläinen, and Thermidas, no new active pressure ulcers have developed at one of Mehiläinen’s care homes for over a year. Thermal imaging has been experienced in the care home as a meaningful, easy, and fast tool. Based on user experiences, care home staff have reported that thermal imaging is currently the best tool for pressure ulcer prevention. Calculations of savings in care costs are expected to arrive in autumn 2025.
In addition, the voluntary pilot started at Tesoma Health Centre for the prevention of foot problems in diabetic patients is the first of its kind in primary healthcare. The purpose of the pilot is to reduce the need for specialised care, improve the basic care of diabetic patients, and improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.
For further information about the report and the pilots, please contact:
Frida Samuelsson
Consultant
Thermidas Oy
Polttimonkatu 4
33210 Tampere
+358 40 723 1711
frida.samuelsson@thermidas.fi
Kaisa Luostarinen
Project Manager
Commercialization and scaling of digital health solutions: DH2
The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa
Finnmedi 6-7, 4. krs.
Biokatu 14, 33520 Tampere
+358 40 121 7598
