title: Obstacles hindering the mainstream practice of teledermatopathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teledermatopathology has the potential to link underserved areas to experts across the country and assist in making quick diagnoses, which may improve health care costs and delivery. Despite these potential benefits, teledermatopathology is not used routinely for primary diagnosis in the United States.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the current status of and address the potential for improving health care by the use of teledermatolopathology for primary diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current available literature and online resources were reviewed to address 3 major variables that hinder the widespread use of teledermatopathology: diagnostic accuracy, licensure requirements, and reimbursement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies show similar diagnostic accuracy for this technology compared to conventional microscopy. State-to-state variation and ambiguity in laws serve as the biggest hurdles to the widespread use of teledermatopathology. More states are recognizing the importance of the implementation of specific laws regarding telemedicine. More studies are required to evaluate the systems that offer specific telemedicine licenses, in addition to those that pay for telemedicine services specifically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reviewed current legislation concerning teledermatopathology; these laws are subject to revision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving diagnostic accuracy and limiting variations in policy and reimbursement may encourage more pathologists to use teledermatopathology technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giambrone
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Electronic address: babarrao@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Babar K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Shaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008007:Licensure, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019113:Telepathology / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
keywords: dermatopathology; digital pathology; teledermatology; teledermatopathology; telehealth; telepathology; virtual microscopy