In recent years, advanced teledermatology services have become the most popular form of telemedicine for patients. With the healthcare leaders expecting this industry to transform healthcare in the coming decade, it is important to examine exactly how the benefits of teledermatology are affecting the healthcare system.
Efficacy
The first question that must be addressed is if store-and-forward teledermatology services allow physicians to provide accurate, effective care that would not be possible with standard in-clinic visits. Research suggests that online dermatology is “an efficient and appropriate health service”, with recently published studies citing the accuracy of diagnosis rating as up to 80%.
Time Reduction
Another beneficial factor of teledermatology platforms are its ability to save time for medical experts and patients alike, with majority of clinic users stating that improved patient access and scheduling flexibility were key factors in delivering satisfaction. In fact, one study notes that these services allowed for a reduction of in-clinic dermatologist visits by up to 74%.
Economic Value
A final asset of telemedicine (in addition to its potentially life-saving care) is its cost efficacy. Intelligent dermatology services hold the potential to create a domino effect of reduced patient follow-up visits, treatment costs, and undetected cases, which would have a massive positive effect on the healthcare system both time and cost wise.