Teledermatology in the wake of COVID-19: Advantages and challenges to continued care in a time of disarray

Utilization of Asynchronous and Synchronous Teledermatology in a Large Health Care System During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Telehealth, along with other forms of social distancing, has been vital in preventing further disease spread, while also continuing exemplary care for patients. 1,2 Several regulatory bodies and academies, including the American Academy of Dermatology, have encouraged dermatologists to substitute nonessential face-to-face patient visits with teledermatology. 3,4 Teledermatology has been used for over two decades to provide improved access and care, especially to underserved communities, while simultaneously reducing health care costs.…”

“…7 Yet, both systems also have disadvantages such as privacy concerns, technological difficulties, and a lack of communication for asynchronous visits. 2,6 Limited data exist comparing the technologies and, as such, a consensus on patient and provider preference has not yet been reached. [9][10][11] In general, telehealth utilization by patients in a large commercially insured population in the United States averaged *6.6 telehealth visits per 1,000 patient-visits per year.…”

Where do we stand as dermatologists in combat with COVID ‐19

“…Such alternatives are primarily useful for triage purposes and to follow-up long-term patients, but they clearly cannot replace clinical examination (supported by dermoscopy). 10 This is where systems such as the Vectra 3D system can be useful for sensitive monitoring for changes or new lesions.…”

Inpatient teledermatology in the era of COVID-19 and the importance of the complete skin examination

“…Rapid implementation of teledermatology in all subsets of the specialty has led to unique opportunities, as well as challenges. 1 For dermatology hospitalists, the viral pandemic necessitated the creation of original work-flow algorithms designed to balance the risk of exposure and resource consumption with the unique needs of hospitalized patients with skin disease. 2 Teleconsultation was identified as a valuable tool; however, this modality necessitates the shift of vital components of dermatology consultation to the referring provider, including meaningful and complete skin examination, as well as procurement of appropriate, quality images.…”