Importance Innovative, online models of specialty-care delivery are critical to improving patient access and outcomes. Objective To determine whether an online, collaborative connected-health model results in equivalent clinical improvements in psoriasis compared with in-person care. Design, Setting, and Participants The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Psoriasis Teledermatology Trial is a 12-month, pragmatic, randomized clinical equivalency trial to evaluate the effect of an online model for psoriasis compared with in-person care. Participant recruitment and study visits took place at multicenter ambulatory clinics from February 2, 2015, to August 18, 2017. Participants were adults with psoriasis in Northern California, Southern California, and Colorado. The eligibility criteria were an age of 18 years or older, having physician-diagnosed psoriasis, access to the internet and a digital camera or mobile phone with a camera, and having a primary care physician. Analyses were on an intention-to-treat basis. Interventions Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive online or in-person care (148 randomized to online care and 148 randomized to in-person care). The online model enabled patients and primary care physicians to access dermatologists online asynchronously. The dermatologists provided assessments, recommendations, education, and prescriptions online. The in-person group sought care in person. The frequency of online or in-person visits was determined by medical necessity. All participants were exposed to their respective interventions for 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures The prespecified primary outcome was the difference in improvement in the self-administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score between the online and in-person groups. Prespecified secondary outcomes included body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis and the patient global assessment score. Results Of the 296 randomized participants, 147 were women, 149 were men, 187 were white, and the mean (SD) age was 49 (14) years. The adjusted difference between the online and in-person groups in the mean change in the self-administered PASI score during the 12-month study period was –0.27 (95% CI, –0.85 to 0.31). The difference in the mean change in BSA affected by psoriasis between the 2 groups was –0.05% (95% CI, –1.58% to 1.48%). Between-group differences in the PASI score and BSA were within prespecified equivalence margins, which demonstrated equivalence between the 2 interventions. The difference in the mean change in the patient global assessment score between the 2 groups was –0.11 (95% CI, –0.32 to 0.10), which exceeded the equivalence margin, with the online group displaying greater improvement. Conclusions and Relevance The online, collaborative connected-health model was as effective as in-person management in improving c...

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Background Previous research suggests that technology-enabled healthcare delivery may improve access to dermatologic specialty care. Outcomes research utilizing validated outcomes measures is necessary for evaluation of novel healthcare delivery models. Objective To compare the clinical equivalence of a novel patient-centered online healthcare delivery model with standard in-office care for follow-up management of psoriasis patients. Methods Sixty-four participants with psoriasis were randomized to receive follow-up care either in-office or online over a 24-week period. Patients randomized to the online group underwent standardized training on capturing high-quality digital images of their psoriatic skin and transmitting these images and clinical history to a dermatologist securely. The dermatologist then performed asynchronous, online evaluation and provided recommendations directly to patients. We used clinically validated disease severity and quality of life measures to assess effectiveness between the models. Results Both online and in-office groups showed improvement in psoriasis disease severity as measured by mean improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (online group: μ = −3.4,, in-office: μ = −3.4,). Patient-centered online care resulted in similar improvement in psoriasis severity compared to in-person follow-up care (mean difference in PASI change 0.1, 95% CI: −2.2 to 2.3, a priori equivalence margin of 2.5). Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores also improved during the study period; no significant differences existed between the two groups. Limitations The follow-up period was limited to 24 weeks. Conclusion A patient-centered online model may be an effective alternative to in-office care for follow-up management of psoriasis.

To assess the impact of live interactive teledermatology consultations on changes in diagnosis, disease management, and clinical outcomes. Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1500 patients evaluated via live interactive teledermatology between 2003 and 2005 at the University of California, Davis. We compared diagnoses and treatment plans between the referring physicians and the teledermatologists. Patients with 2 or more teledermatology visits within a 1-year period were assessed for changes in clinical outcomes. Setting: Academic medical center with an established teledermatology program since 1996. Participants: Medical records were evaluated for 1500 patients who underwent live interactive teledermatology consultation. Patients seen for more than 1 teledermatology visit were included in the clinical outcome assessment. Intervention: Live interactive teledermatology consultation. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in diagnosis, disease management, and clinical outcome. Results: Compared with diagnoses and treatment plans from referring physicians, the 1500 live interactive teledermatology consultations resulted in changes in diagnosis in 69.9% of patients and changes in disease management in 97.7% of patients. Among 313 patients with at least 2 teledermatology visits within 1 year, clinical improvement was observed in 68.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that changes in diagnosis (P = .01), changes in disease management (P Ͻ .001), and the number of teledermatology visits (P Ͻ .001) were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Live interactive teledermatology consultations result in changes in diagnosis and disease management in most consultations. The numbers of live interactive teledermatology visits and changes in diagnosis and disease management are significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Background: Many patients with chronic skin diseases lack regular access to dermatologists in the United States and suffer poor clinical outcomes. Introduction: We performed a 12-month randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an online, collaborative connected health (CCH) model for psoriasis management on access to specialty care. Materials and Methods: The 300 enrolled patients were randomized to online or in-person care. We compared distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time between the two groups and obtained patient and provider perspectives on CCH. Results: At baseline, no differences existed between the groups in difficulties obtaining specialty care. Over 12 months, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) distance traveled to and from appointments was 174.8 (±577.4) km/person for the in-person group and 2.2 (±14.2) km/person for the online group (p = 0.0003). The mean (SD) time spent on transportation and in-office waiting for in-person appointments was 4.0 (±4.5) h/person for the in-person group and 0.1 (±0.4) h/person for the online group (p = 0.