Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.

Presentation

Leveraging Teledermatology Triage to Optimize Access & Outreach

Description

In this presentation, Corey Simpson, an assistant professor of dermatology, discusses the potential of teledermatology to enhance access to specialists, optimize patient triage, and alleviate clinician burnout, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced many to transition to telemedicine. He reflects on the rapid shift to telehealth during the pandemic, which opened new avenues for care delivery, especially benefiting underserved populations such as those living in rural areas or experiencing economic hardships. Simpson highlights technological advancements that allow for better patient-provider connections, noting how teledermatology can reduce waiting times for appointments and improve care outcomes by enabling timely specialist consultations. He addresses the importance of effective triaging to prioritize urgent cases and recommends using augmented intelligence to streamline processes and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers. Furthermore, he advocates for widespread adoption of teledermatology tools and training modules provided by organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), emphasizing the need for system-level changes to improve reimbursement models for telemedicine. Ultimately, he urges engagement with legislators to support continued telehealth access and broadband expansion to ensure equitable healthcare delivery.

View more

Conclusions

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of teledermatology, demonstrating its potential to improve patient access to care.
Telemedicine can expand access to dermatological services for marginalized and underserved populations, including rural communities and racial/ethnic minorities.
Utilizing teledermatology can optimize triage by prioritizing urgent medical needs and improving appointment efficiency.
High-quality photos in teledermatology consultations often provide better diagnostic information than video, enhancing the quality of care.
Teledermatology has been shown to reduce the no-show rates for appointments, particularly among marginalized groups.
Provider-to-provider consults via teledermatology can result in a significant number of cases that do not require in-person visits, freeing up more time for critical cases.
Effective implementation of teledermatology can lead to more appropriate treatment plans, reducing the risk of inappropriate care by non-specialists.
Augmented intelligence could help mitigate clinician burnout by streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing patient engagements.

Coates et al. 2015, JAAD
Wang et al. 2019, JAAD
Franciosi et al. 2021, JAAD
Hadeler et al. 2021, Pediatr Dermatol
Holmes, Chansky, Simpson: Telemed J E Health 2020
Holmes, Chansky, Simpson 2020, Telemed J E Health