title: Interdepartmental Dermatology: Characteristics and Impact of Dermatology Inpatient Referrals at a Teaching Hospital in Eastern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatology is primarily considered to be an outpatient-centered specialty. However, several inpatient admissions to other specialties require dermatologic consultation for optimum management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the causes of inpatient dermatology referrals, departments sending referrals, and impact of dermatology consultation on patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study by analyzing the records of 486 patient referrals over a 4-year period. The demographic details, specialties requesting consultation, cause of referral, and dermatological advice have been recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dermatology consultation changed the dermatologic diagnosis and treatment of almost two-thirds of patients. General medicine requested the maximum number of referrals, "skin rash" being the most common cause for referral. Accurate diagnosis on referrals was provided by only 30.2% of nondermatologists. Common dermatological disorders were often misdiagnosed by these physicians, and dermatology referrals had significant impact on the diagnosis and subsequent management of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While dermatologic referral leads to improved patient care, there is a need for better training of nondermatologists enabling them to recognize and treat common dermatoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Medical College and Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Satyendra Nath
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Medical College and Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Indrasish
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Podder
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Medical College and Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Abanti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Medical College and Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
keywords: Dermatology; inpatient; referral