Published in:
14-12-2023 | Telemedicine | REVIEW
Teledermatology Lessons During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:
Zachary Brown, Allison Dobry
Published in:
Current Dermatology Reports
|
Issue 4/2023
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Abstract
Purpose of review
The purpose of this review is to highlight the parallel changes in practice, regulatory, and reimbursement patterns for teledermatology before, during, and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Recent findings
There was a sharp increase in teledermatology utilization by both patients and dermatologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in teledermatology use can be attributed to governmental changes in regulation that allowed greater flexibility in care delivery as well as a higher degree of access and payment parity for teledermatology as compared to in-person dermatology.
Summary
The confluence of a greater need for virtual care in conjunction with a more permissive regulatory environment and equitable pay structure was the impetus for teledermatology becoming a standard model of healthcare delivery in the USA. Whether teledermatology will continue to a viable model in the future years, however, will be dependent on whether these regulatory and payment structures can remain in place for the long term.