Using a store-and-forward telemedicine system to obtain dermatological consults remotely is a reliable tool for triaging inpatients, according to a study in JAMA Dermatology.
In the study, a group of 50 adult patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia were both seen by a dermatologist in person and had their condition examined remotely by a tele-dermatologist. Researchers then compared the treatment recommendations of the in-person dermatologists with those who were sent skin images and patients' information.
Results showed when the in-person dermatologist recommended the patient be seen the same day, the tele-dermatologist agreed about 90 percent of the time. When the in-person dermatologist recommended ordering a biopsy, the tele-dermatologist agreed in 95 percent of the cases.
The results suggest tele-dermatology can be an effective triage method for hospitals that may not have a dermatologist on staff, according to the study's authors.
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