Dermatology Immediate Care: A Game Changer for the Health Care System?

Emergency departments (EDs) and immediate care (IC) centers frequently lack timely access to board-certified dermatologists, contributing to delays, misdiagnoses, and unnecessary treatments. Multiple studies show dermatology consultation often changes diagnosis and management and improves short-term clinical outcomes. Implementing a dermatology urgent care/IC model (initially referral-based with defined staffing blocks and triage rules) could reduce ED visits, shorten wait times, improve access for vulnerable patients and pediatric populations, and prevent interruptions in specialty therapies such as oncology and transplant care.