Teledermatology Addressing Disparities in Health Care Access: a Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review Dermatologists have been at the forefront of researching telemedicine to expand access to care. The current COVID-19 pandemic has prompted even greater expansion and implementation of teledermatology. This review discusses the research examining the potential impact of teledermatology addressing disparities in care. Recent Findings Teledermatology appears to increase access to dermatology given expanded means to deliver care. Specifically, recent studies have found increased access among Medicaid-insured, resource-poor urban and rural, and elderly populations. Teledermatology implementation also facilitates education among providers at different levels of training. Still, as some patients have inconsistent access to the required technology, increased reliance on telemedicine may also potentially increase disparities for some populations. Summary Teledermatology may serve to reduce disparities in health care access in many underserved and marginalized communities. Future research should continue to study implementation, especially given the expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, teledermatology may play an important role in ensuring equitable care access for all.

Remote Skin Cancer Diagnosis: Adding Images to Electronic Referrals Is More Efficient Than Wait-Listing for a Nurse-Led Imaging Clinic

“…Statistical data from NZ stats show the median age of the Waikato region to be 37.6 years in 2013 and 38.2 years in 2018 [ 33 ]. The convenience of the SSC referral method may encourage GPs to refer a greater proportion of older patients, as has been found in other studies [ 18 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. A higher proportion of 2020 VLC referrals were from semi-rural locations compared to 2020 SSC pathway and 2016 VLC.…”

“…The benefit of increased access to skin cancer screening by teledermoscopy, particularly in screening rural and low-income groups, has been well established [ 17 , 18 ]. A 2018 systematic review that included 16 studies, predominantly cross-sectional and observational, reported diagnostic accuracy in eight studies [ 19 ].…”

Health Care Disparities and Access to Video Visits Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Patient Survey in Primary Care

“…have been well described as positive interventions 15 ; in fact, even simple mobile phones have been shown to have great promise to help close gaps in access, but only if the gaps in phone ownership and access to these digital tools are closed. 16 The concern we explored in our survey-regarding the equity of telemedicine services-was identified early in the pandemic of 2020. Three main barriers to patients accessing care are commonly identified 17 : absence of technology (i.e., mobile phone or computer), digital literacy, and reliable internet coverage.…”

Teledermatology expedites urgent care for a case of acral melanoma with cutaneous in-transit metastases

“…3 As a highly visual specialty, dermatology is particularly well-suited for telemedicine (ie, teledermatology). 4 This report details a patient case in which teledermatology was essential for identifying an atypical lesion as amelanotic melanoma. This case is a prime example of teledermatology's utility in expediting urgent dermatologic care, especially for rare skin cancers, the atypical appearances of which often result in missed diagnosis and worse prognosis.…”