Feasibility and cost of a telemedicine-based short-term plan for initial access in general dermatology in Andalusia, Spain

Abstract

Background: In developed countries, health care delivery in dermatology is hampered by the low availability of dermatologists.Objective: To analyze the feasibility of a teledermatology-based action plan to provide initial dermatologic care in areas with low availability of dermatologists.Methods: A cross-sectional study describing the feasibility and cost of a 12-month action plan based on a store-and-forward teledermatology (TD) connecting primary care centers and a TD center. Teleconsultations from patients complaining of any cutaneous condition were included. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients not referred to the local dermatologist.Results: Among the total of 15,523 teleconsultations attended in the TD-based action plan, 3360 (21.65%) required a face-to-face visit with a local dermatologist. In 32.32% (n = 5017) of the cases, a therapeutic and follow-up plan report was issued. The most common conditions managed were melanocytic nevi (15.63%, n = 2426), followed by seborrheic keratosis (14.89%, n = 2312), and actinic keratosis (8.65%, n = 1342). The average response time was 14.52 days (95% CI 14. 35-15.23

Emergency Use and Efficacy of an Asynchronous Teledermatology System as a Novel Tool for Early Diagnosis of Skin Cancer during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Different teledermatology services have been used routinely since the mid 2000’s in the public health care system of European countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain [ 16 , 17 ]. Despite the fact, high percentage of dermatologists used teledermatology the first time after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Quoi de neuf en dermatologie clinique ?

“…La téléconsultation et la téléexpertise permettent de limiter les contacts lors de la pandémie, et de pallier les difficultés d’accès à une consultation face à face. L’évaluation économique des systèmes de téléexpertise avec dermoscopie fournie et centre dédié est encourageante [ 100 ]. Il faut rester conscient que les populations âgées, précaires ou peu éduquées, ayant peu accès aux soins, ont également peu accès à la téléconsultation [ 101 ].…”

Telemedicine management of systemic therapy with isotretinoin of patients with moderate-to-severe acne during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal prospective feasibility study

“…A prospective longitudinal study was conducted at the Dermatology Digital Center of the University Hospital Virgen Macarena (Seville, Spain), an academic public hospital covering an area of 550,000 inhabitants, between September 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, to assess the feasibility of store-and-forward teledermatology to manage patients with acne suitable for treatment with oral isotretinoin. 1 Family physicians captured clinical pictures using mobile phones (Fig 1). 1 The Dermatology Digital Center responded with a report with the diagnosis and recommended treatment (oral isotretinoin), additional information sheets, and instructions.…”

“…1 Family physicians captured clinical pictures using mobile phones (Fig 1). 1 The Dermatology Digital Center responded with a report with the diagnosis and recommended treatment (oral isotretinoin), additional information sheets, and instructions. Acne severity was assessed using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and the Investigator Global Assessment of acne.…”