Faculty Collaboration Database

Teledermatology in the inpatient setting. Semin Cutan Med Surg 2017 Mar;36(1):12-16

Date

03/02/2017

Pubmed ID

28247870

DOI

10.12788/j.sder.2017.004

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85021857906 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

Teledermatology (TD) is a health care delivery modality that uses telecommunication technology to provide dermatologic care. It has grown to be a reliable and diagnostically accurate means of producing quality care while increasing access and reducing wait times in the outpatient setting. In the inpatient setting, TD may be an effective method to improve access to dermatologic care by remotely triaging, assisting, or providing dermatologic consultative services. For inpatient dermatology, there is the potential for TD to increase access to care in the community setting where dermatologists have full outpatient schedules. Using inpatient TD to triage conditions may be especially helpful in determining if a patient needs to be emergently/urgently seen, or if outpatient care could be appropriate. To best establish TD in the inpatient setting, certain practice guidelines should be considered to ensure the highest quality patient care. These features include Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-consistent protocols to ensure high-quality video sessions and clinical photographs are acquired, stored, and transmitted using secure software and networks, establishing relationships with primary care teams to ensure trust in consulting advice and ensuring consistent communication regarding recommendations, and appropriate patient follow-up.

Author List

Tull R, Wanat KA

Author

Karolyn A. Wanat MD Chair, Professor in the Dermatology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Computer Security
Confidentiality
Dermatology
Health Services Accessibility
Hospital Medicine
Hospitals
Humans
Internship and Residency
Liability, Legal
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Referral and Consultation
Reimbursement Mechanisms
Skin Diseases
Telemedicine