title: Teledermatology in Air Force: Our Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teledermatology is the science of telemedicine applied to the field of dermatology, with an aim to avoid travelling to nearest specialist facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients from Air Force Stations Jaisalmer, Naliya, 5 Air Force Hospital, Jorhat and 9 Air Force Hospital, Halwara were consulted by the dermatologist at Command Hospital (Air Force) Bangalore through the telemedicine network provided by ISRO, Bangalore from March 06 to May 08.
  
  
  RESULTS
  115 patients underwent teledermatology consultation using virtual teleconference (VTC) and this was compared with Store and Forward (S and F) consultation at all four stations as well as Face to Face (FTF) consultation at 5 Air Force Hospital Jorhat. Diagnosis concordance was 52.5% and 53% for Jorhat and Halwara for VTC vs S and F, while it was 75% and 25% for Jaisalmer and Naliya. For VTC vs FTF, the concordance improved to 60.66% and for S and F vs FTF it improved to 91.8%. Concordance was better for localized lesions than for generalized lesions especially of the papulosquamous group of disorders. Another reason for the discordance with VTC was poor resolution of cameras at the peripheral units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teledermatology is useful for patient care in the absence of local specialist cover and the patients have to travel long distances resulting in loss of manhours. However, better camera resolution at peripheral centres will result in greater concordance.
authors.affiliation: Professor (Dermatology & Venerology), Command Hospital (Air Force) Bangalore.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Dermatology & Venerology) MH, Agra Cantt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Dermatology & Venerology), 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur-208004.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
keywords: Face to face; Store and forward; Teledermatology; Virtual teleconference