The virtual mole clinic: preliminary results from the Plymouth skin cancer screening study using telemedicine

This study evaluated a skin cancer screening service between primary and secondary care in Plymouth using a store and forward telemedicine system. The primary objective was to minimize the time from a patient presenting to a GP with a suspicious lesion to the lesion being assessed and diagnosed by a plastic surgeon. This study retrospectively assessed the practical, technical and operational aspects of incorporating telemedicine into everyday practice and patient satisfaction. Both the GP practice and plastic surgeons were equipped with the appropriate technology for creating, transmitting and accessing an electronic telemedicine record (ETR) via an ISDN 2 line. Patients with suspicious lesions accessed the GP via Mole Check Clinics. The GP captured and transmitted an ETR consisting of digital images and relevant clinical data. In a virtual mole clinic, the plastic surgeon accessed and reviewed the ETR. The expert opinion was entered directly into the ETR and transmitted to the GP within 48 hours. All patients were offered a face-to-face consultation at a real mole clinic within 7 days. Outcomes demonstrated patient and clinician satisfaction and the ability to deliver high quality diagnostic images and resulting expert opinion. This study informed a larger study for future applications of telemedicine.