title: Teledermatology as a Means to Provide Multispecialty Care: A Case of Global Specialty Collaboration.
abstract: Telemedicine can serve as a platform for specialty collaboration and potentially address the lack of specialized and subspecialized care globally. In this article we present a case in which the use of teledermatology facilitated global collaboration between multiple specialists and subspecialists, resulting in high-quality care of a child from a remote area of Botswana. We present the lessons learned and factors that should be considered when engaging in global specialty collaboration, especially between developed and developing countries. We also discuss the potential limitations of telemedicine when used within a global context. With these considerations in mind, global specialty collaboration facilitated by telemedicine can provide a potential solution to the lack of access to specialized and subspecialized care.
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Pamela N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Madu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Aileen Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Mukendi K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kayembe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kovarik
mesh_terms: D001902:Botswana; D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007391:International Cooperation; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017216:Telemedicine; D014481:United States