Incorporating teledermatology into emergency medicine

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Dermatology
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) frequently encounter dermatological conditions requiring specialist input.
• Timely access to dermatological expertise in EDs can be challenging, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a store-and-forward Skin Emergency Telemedicine Service (SETS) for ED dermatological consultations.
• To assess the speed, accuracy, and concordance of teledermatology advice.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving consenting adult patients with dermatological conditions in an ED.
• Digital images and clinical data were transmitted to a teledermatologist for remote assessment.
• Advice was provided to ED doctors, with face-to-face follow-up within two weeks.

Main Results:

• SETS provided rapid opinions, with 93% of consultations receiving advice within 2 hours.
• High diagnostic agreement was observed: 71.2% with ED diagnosis and 98% with final clinical diagnosis.
• Clinical management concordance between teledermatologists and reviewing dermatologists was 96%.

Conclusions:

• The Skin Emergency Telemedicine Service (SETS) is a feasible and effective method for delivering prompt and accurate specialist dermatological advice to EDs.
• This service can significantly improve the diagnostic and management capabilities for skin conditions presenting in emergency settings.