Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Current Dermatology Reports 2/2022

01-06-2022 | Triage | Teledermatology (D Oh, Section Editor)

Inpatient Teledermatology: a Review

Authors: Joseph Mocharnuk, Trevor Lockard, Corey Georgesen, Joseph C English

Published in: Current Dermatology Reports | Issue 2/2022

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Inpatient teledermatology is a rapidly growing field with significant potential to add value and streamline patient care. This review summarizes the current literature on inpatient teledermatology, primarily focusing on its diagnostic and clinical management utility as compared to live dermatologic evaluation.

Recent Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of inpatient teledermatology, which has been shown to be comparable to live hospitalist evaluation for triage, diagnosis, and management of hospitalized patients for a wide variety of conditions. Despite its comparative cost-effectiveness and recent changes in reimbursement practices, inpatient teledermatology still lacks sufficient reimbursement incentive for widespread implementation.

Summary

Inpatient teledermatology is an effective, efficient, accurate, and cost-effective means of managing the hospital burden of skin disease, especially in areas where access to dermatologic care is limited. It is essential that dermatologists and referring providers comprehend the use and potential pitfalls of inpatient teledermatology to effectively incorporate it into hospital practice.
Literature
13.
16.
go back to reference •• Gabel CK, Nguyen E, Karmouta R, et al. Use of teledermatology by dermatology hospitalists is effective in the diagnosis and management of inpatient disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(6):1547–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.171. An illustrative study comparing live versus teledermatologist evaluation showing the high reliability of teledermatology to diagnose, manage, and treat a variety of consultations.CrossRefPubMed •• Gabel CK, Nguyen E, Karmouta R, et al. Use of teledermatology by dermatology hospitalists is effective in the diagnosis and management of inpatient disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(6):1547–53. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​jaad.​2020.​04.​171An illustrative study comparing live versus teledermatologist evaluation showing the high reliability of teledermatology to diagnose, manage, and treat a variety of consultations.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference •• Georgesen C, Karim SA, Liu R, Moorhead A, Falo LD Jr, English JC 3rd. Inpatient eDermatology (Teledermatology) Can help meet the demand for inpatient skin disease. Telemed J E Health. 2020;26(7):872–8. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2019.0147. The first large volume of inpatient teledermatology consultations reported from community hospitals with no primary dermatologic care from a distance.CrossRefPubMed •• Georgesen C, Karim SA, Liu R, Moorhead A, Falo LD Jr, English JC 3rd. Inpatient eDermatology (Teledermatology) Can help meet the demand for inpatient skin disease. Telemed J E Health. 2020;26(7):872–8. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1089/​tmj.​2019.​0147. The first large volume of inpatient teledermatology consultations reported from community hospitals with no primary dermatologic care from a distance.CrossRefPubMed
38.
go back to reference Davila M, Christenson LJ, Sontheimer RD. Epidemiology and outcomes of dermatology in-patient consultations in a Midwestern U.S. university hospital. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):12. Davila M, Christenson LJ, Sontheimer RD. Epidemiology and outcomes of dermatology in-patient consultations in a Midwestern U.S. university hospital. Dermatol Online J. 2010;16(2):12.
39.
go back to reference Muniraj T, Pinevich AJ, Via C, English J. Teaching inpatient dermatology using telemedicine techniques. Academic Internal Medicine Insight. 2012;10(1). Muniraj T, Pinevich AJ, Via C, English J. Teaching inpatient dermatology using telemedicine techniques. Academic Internal Medicine Insight. 2012;10(1).
41.
go back to reference • Georgesen C, Karim SA, Liu R, Moorhead A, Falo LD Jr, English JC 3rd. Response: “Distinguishing Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis from clinical mimickers during inpatient dermatologic consultation–a retrospective chart review.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(3):e111–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.09.087. The study demonstrates first-hand cost savings with inpatient teledermatology as well as the capability of IPTD to triage patients to avoid unnecessary resource use.CrossRefPubMed • Georgesen C, Karim SA, Liu R, Moorhead A, Falo LD Jr, English JC 3rd. Response: “Distinguishing Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis from clinical mimickers during inpatient dermatologic consultation–a retrospective chart review.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(3):e111–2. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​jaad.​2019.​09.​087. The study demonstrates first-hand cost savings with inpatient teledermatology as well as the capability of IPTD to triage patients to avoid unnecessary resource use.CrossRefPubMed
42.
go back to reference Armstrong AW, Chambers CJ, Maverakis E, et al. Effectiveness of online vs in-person care for adults with psoriasis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1:E183062.CrossRef Armstrong AW, Chambers CJ, Maverakis E, et al. Effectiveness of online vs in-person care for adults with psoriasis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1:E183062.CrossRef
47.
go back to reference • Zakaria A, Maurer T, Su G, Amerson E. Impact of teledermatology on the accessibility and efficiency of dermatology care in an urban safety-net hospital: a pre-post analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(6):1446–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.08.016. Powerful retrospective analysis which indicates that teledermatology is efficient by a number of metrics.CrossRefPubMed • Zakaria A, Maurer T, Su G, Amerson E. Impact of teledermatology on the accessibility and efficiency of dermatology care in an urban safety-net hospital: a pre-post analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(6):1446–52. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​jaad.​2019.​08.​016. Powerful retrospective analysis which indicates that teledermatology is efficient by a number of metrics.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Metadata
Title
Inpatient Teledermatology: a Review
Authors
Joseph Mocharnuk
Trevor Lockard
Corey Georgesen
Joseph C English
Publication date
01-06-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Keywords
Triage
Care
Published in
Current Dermatology Reports / Issue 2/2022
Electronic ISSN: 2162-4933
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-022-00360-x

Other articles of this Issue 2/2022

Current Dermatology Reports 2/2022 Go to the issue

Dermatology and its Use in Social Media (C Presley, Section Editor)

Social Media as a Medium for Dermatologic Education

Contact Dermatitis (Brandon Adler and Vincent Deleo, Section editors)

Irritant Contact Dermatitis — a Review

Infectious Disease and Dermatology (C Beard and K Krishnamurthy, SECTION EDITORS)

Mucocutaneous Candida Infections in Immunocompromised Patients