Evaluating patient acceptance of a teledermatology link of an urban urgent-care dermatology clinic run by residents with board certified dermatologists.
BACKGROUND
A teledermatology system was established in a dermatology urgent-care clinic staffed by dermatology residents in the emergency department. These residents had previously lacked attending dermatology supervision.


METHODS
Resident physicians took digital pictures of patients' lesions and downloaded the images onto a network personal computer (PC). The images were stored on the hospital's server and then viewed within 5 minutes by an attending dermatologist, in a different location, using a network PC with monitor. Resident and attending physicians discussed the cases over the telephone. Patient acceptance was assessed via separate written surveys. Fifty-one patients, approximately 10 resident physicians, and two attending dermatologists participated in the study.


RESULTS
Patient acceptance of the teledermatology system was high (93%). Teledermatology may prove a viable means of evaluating dermatologic complaints in the emergency department.
Scheinfeld
Noah
N
The Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1090 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 11D, New York, NY 10025, USA. scheinfeld@earthlink.net
Fisher
Michael
M
Genis
Paul
P
Long
Heather
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010781:Photography; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014505:Urban Population