From Months to Hours — Digital Tools Accelerate Dermatological Diagnoses

Getting that nasty rash treated isn’t always a straightforward process. Dermatologists have notoriously long waitlists, resulting in patients having to wait for weeks before getting a diagnosis and starting a treatment plan. According to a study published in Telemedicine and e-Health, sharing digital photographs of the patient’s affected areas with dermatologists could completely transform the clinical care process by reducing the time to consultations.

“Telemedicine offers the opportunity to accelerate health care access by getting around infrastructure barriers: namely, heavily booked dermatology practices,” said professor of Clinical Dermatology, Jules Lipoff, MD, senior author of the study.

“Our study provides evidence that more patients can be cared for with the same amount of resources we’re using now.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many interactions between patients and doctors onto digital platforms to avoid physical contact where possible. This has proven how transitioning specialty care to the online space has the power to create faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective clinical practices.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated just how important it is to ensure patients have the ability to access to the care, education and…