Direct-to-consumer store-and-forward (SAF) telemedicine consultations may be an effective method based on the results of 67 of the 70 consultations (96%) generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, according to a poster by Dintiman and colleagues, which was presented at the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016, in Cambridge, MD.
1
SAF technology involves the transmission of medical information including images, documents, and prerecorded videos transferred through secure electronic transmission. New data was collected and analyzed from SAF telemedicine consultations, exploring the basic aspects of patient engagement and the current role of the direct-to-consumer teledermatology. The SAF program with a HIPPAA-compliant mobile application (DermUtopia) used in the study allows individuals to receive direct care from US board-certified dermatologists through virtual consultation.
For the study, the researchers collected demographic data, types of diagnosis, types of treatment recommendations, and triage capabilities from the system between June 2013 and February 2016. Patient demographics included gender, age, and the primary application user. The gender distribution among the overall study population resulted in 51 female patients (73%), and 19 male patients (27%). The age distribution among the patient population included 10 patients 18 or younger (16%), 25 patients in the 19 to 30 age group (40%), 15 patients in the 31 to 40 age group (24%), 2 patients in the 41 to 50 age group (3%), 5 patients in the 51 to 60 age group (8%), and 6 patients age 61 or older (9%).
The different dermatologic diagnoses assessed and managed through the mobile application generated 21 different diagnoses and 76 total diagnoses. Only 6 of the 70 reviewed consultations did not obtain a diagnosis, and 11 of the 70 were scheduled for follow-up visits, 9 of which were follow-up visits to help manage acne vulgaris.
The researchers concluded that although the data suggests that direct-to-consumer SAF programs may be an effective method for generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, due to the small sample size, further studies of the patient demographics should be completed.
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Reference
1. Dintiman B, Shanahan C. Increasing access to care with direct-to-consumer teledermatology. Poster presented at: Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016; April 10-12, 2016; Cambridge, MD.
Direct-to-consumer store-and-forward (SAF) telemedicine consultations may be an effective method based on the results of 67 of the 70 consultations (96%) generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, according to a poster by Dintiman and colleagues, which was presented at the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016, in Cambridge, MD.
1
SAF technology involves the transmission of medical information including images, documents, and prerecorded videos transferred through secure electronic transmission. New data was collected and analyzed from SAF telemedicine consultations, exploring the basic aspects of patient engagement and the current role of the direct-to-consumer teledermatology. The SAF program with a HIPPAA-compliant mobile application (DermUtopia) used in the study allows individuals to receive direct care from US board-certified dermatologists through virtual consultation.
For the study, the researchers collected demographic data, types of diagnosis, types of treatment recommendations, and triage capabilities from the system between June 2013 and February 2016. Patient demographics included gender, age, and the primary application user. The gender distribution among the overall study population resulted in 51 female patients (73%), and 19 male patients (27%). The age distribution among the patient population included 10 patients 18 or younger (16%), 25 patients in the 19 to 30 age group (40%), 15 patients in the 31 to 40 age group (24%), 2 patients in the 41 to 50 age group (3%), 5 patients in the 51 to 60 age group (8%), and 6 patients age 61 or older (9%).
The different dermatologic diagnoses assessed and managed through the mobile application generated 21 different diagnoses and 76 total diagnoses. Only 6 of the 70 reviewed consultations did not obtain a diagnosis, and 11 of the 70 were scheduled for follow-up visits, 9 of which were follow-up visits to help manage acne vulgaris.
The researchers concluded that although the data suggests that direct-to-consumer SAF programs may be an effective method for generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, due to the small sample size, further studies of the patient demographics should be completed.
Â
Reference
1. Dintiman B, Shanahan C. Increasing access to care with direct-to-consumer teledermatology. Poster presented at: Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016; April 10-12, 2016; Cambridge, MD.
Direct-to-consumer store-and-forward (SAF) telemedicine consultations may be an effective method based on the results of 67 of the 70 consultations (96%) generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, according to a poster by Dintiman and colleagues, which was presented at the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016, in Cambridge, MD.
1
SAF technology involves the transmission of medical information including images, documents, and prerecorded videos transferred through secure electronic transmission. New data was collected and analyzed from SAF telemedicine consultations, exploring the basic aspects of patient engagement and the current role of the direct-to-consumer teledermatology. The SAF program with a HIPPAA-compliant mobile application (DermUtopia) used in the study allows individuals to receive direct care from US board-certified dermatologists through virtual consultation.
For the study, the researchers collected demographic data, types of diagnosis, types of treatment recommendations, and triage capabilities from the system between June 2013 and February 2016. Patient demographics included gender, age, and the primary application user. The gender distribution among the overall study population resulted in 51 female patients (73%), and 19 male patients (27%). The age distribution among the patient population included 10 patients 18 or younger (16%), 25 patients in the 19 to 30 age group (40%), 15 patients in the 31 to 40 age group (24%), 2 patients in the 41 to 50 age group (3%), 5 patients in the 51 to 60 age group (8%), and 6 patients age 61 or older (9%).
The different dermatologic diagnoses assessed and managed through the mobile application generated 21 different diagnoses and 76 total diagnoses. Only 6 of the 70 reviewed consultations did not obtain a diagnosis, and 11 of the 70 were scheduled for follow-up visits, 9 of which were follow-up visits to help manage acne vulgaris.
The researchers concluded that although the data suggests that direct-to-consumer SAF programs may be an effective method for generating a diagnosis and treatment plan for acute and chronic skin diseases, due to the small sample size, further studies of the patient demographics should be completed.
Â
Reference
1. Dintiman B, Shanahan C. Increasing access to care with direct-to-consumer teledermatology. Poster presented at: Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Summit 2016; April 10-12, 2016; Cambridge, MD.
