title: A teledermatology care management protocol for tracking completion of teledermatology recommendations.
abstract: In July 2009 we implemented a 3-year store-and-forward teledermatology project to provide dermatology care to veterans living in rural and underserved areas of the US Pacific Northwest. We also developed a follow-up protocol and tracking system. Information about all completed teledermatology consultations was entered into a database, and major procedures and select medications were tracked. In the first 21 months, 8202 dermatology conditions in 5232 veterans were treated and 3370 major procedures carried out. Ninety-five percent of conditions were associated with no more than two teledermatology consultations, and no condition required more than ten consultations. In total, 1454 conditions were reviewed for clinical pathological correlation, and in 310 (21%) there was a subsequent clinical pathological correlation conference, resulting in a change in final diagnosis for 93 conditions. The follow-up was important in ensuring high quality patient care.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lutton
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Raugi
authors.forename: Mandy R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: Lynne V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Gayle E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Reiber
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D015205:Northwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D000078329:Workforce