TY - JOUR
T1 - The challenges of following patients and assessing outcomes in teledermatology
AU - Krupinski, Elizabeth A.
AU - Engstrom, Mike
AU - Barker, Gail
AU - Levine, Norman
AU - Weinstein, Ronald S.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - We retrospectively reviewed the follow-up and outcomes of 50 store-and-forward teledermatology patients, and compared the findings with those from a control group of 50 patients who had been seen in person. Patient records were examined for a six-month period following the initial referral to a dermatologist. Variables examined included medical records from the referral, evidence of actions taken (e.g. biopsy), evidence of follow-up visits, and what (if any) clinical outcomes were noted. There were few differences between the teledermatology and in-person groups. The main difference was whether there was any report in the record that the referring clinician took some action based on the consultation with the specialist: there were more reports of action being taken in the teledermatology group than in the in-person group. Reports of outcomes were found in only 6% and 8% of the records of the teledermatology and in-person groups, respectively. The challenges of assessing outcomes in teledermatology for rural patients include patient loss to follow-up, lack of information in the patient records and low rates of patient return to the referring clinician for follow-up.
AB - We retrospectively reviewed the follow-up and outcomes of 50 store-and-forward teledermatology patients, and compared the findings with those from a control group of 50 patients who had been seen in person. Patient records were examined for a six-month period following the initial referral to a dermatologist. Variables examined included medical records from the referral, evidence of actions taken (e.g. biopsy), evidence of follow-up visits, and what (if any) clinical outcomes were noted. There were few differences between the teledermatology and in-person groups. The main difference was whether there was any report in the record that the referring clinician took some action based on the consultation with the specialist: there were more reports of action being taken in the teledermatology group than in the in-person group. Reports of outcomes were found in only 6% and 8% of the records of the teledermatology and in-person groups, respectively. The challenges of assessing outcomes in teledermatology for rural patients include patient loss to follow-up, lack of information in the patient records and low rates of patient return to the referring clinician for follow-up.
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U2 - 10.1258/135763304322764149
DO - 10.1258/135763304322764149
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15006211
AN - SCOPUS:2342562463
VL - 10
SP - 21
EP - 24
JO - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
JF - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
SN - 1357-633X
IS - 1
ER -