Inpatient and Tertiary Consultations in Teledermatology

Abstract

Inpatient and tertiary teledermatology have significant potential to increase access to timely, high-quality, specialized dermatology care. Early studies on inpatient teledermatology suggest that it is reliable and can provide assistance with both triage and management decisions, making it a potentially valuable adjunct to increase access to inpatient dermatology care. Initial studies on tertiary teledermatology suggest that it is a popular modality of care, both formally and informally, and that it can reduce the need for referrals to tertiary care centers. However, the development of successful formal tertiary teledermatology networks has been challenging, especially when informal tertiary teledermatology networks are already available. Given the limited number of studies on both of these modalities, further research is needed to define their impact on clinical outcomes and the cost of care, as well as to explore solutions to potential economic, legal, and technological challenges that may limit their application.

Teledermatology versus Face-to-Face Dermatology: An Analysis of Cost-Effectiveness from Eight Studies from Europe and the United States

“…Although both models can be considered highly cost-effective, herein, it has been found that teledermatology reduces costs and is satisfactory to both patients and professionals. Reviews, such as those by Barbieri et al [ 32 ], agree that TD has the potential to provide access to suitable, quality care.…”

“…Zakaria [ 24 ] demonstrated that TD favours the remote classification and treatment of patients with dermatological conditions by means of implementing a triage system, which in turn contributes to a reduction of costs. The study by Barbieri et al [ 32 ] also suggests that TD is effective for classification in dermatological consultations and could increase their efficiency.…”

“…Current clinical practice shows that chronic dermatological conditions often require regular dermatological visits and are generally associated with high costs for medical care systems [ 31 ]. The TD model represents an innovative and profitable method that provides follow-up care to patients when applied properly with relatively low-risk conditions [ 32 ].…”