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Sonia Lamel, MD; Cindy J. Chambers, MD, MPH; Mondhipa Ratnarathorn, MD; April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH

Arch Dermatol. 2012;148(1):61-65. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2011.1157

Objective  To assess the impact of live interactive teledermatology consultations on changes in diagnosis, disease management, and clinical outcomes.

Design  We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1500 patients evaluated via live interactive teledermatology between 2003 and 2005 at the University of California, Davis. We compared diagnoses and treatment plans between the referring physicians and the teledermatologists. Patients with 2 or more teledermatology visits within a 1-year period were assessed for changes in clinical outcomes.

Setting  Academic medical center with an established teledermatology program since 1996.

Participants  Medical records were evaluated for 1500 patients who underwent live interactive teledermatology consultation. Patients seen for more than 1 teledermatology visit were included in the clinical outcome assessment.

Intervention  Live interactive teledermatology consultation.

Main Outcome Measures  Changes in diagnosis, disease management, and clinical outcome.

Results  Compared with diagnoses and treatment plans from referring physicians, the 1500 live interactive teledermatology consultations resulted in changes in diagnosis in 69.9% of patients and changes in disease management in 97.7% of patients. Among 313 patients with at least 2 teledermatology visits within 1 year, clinical improvement was observed in 68.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that changes in diagnosis (P = .01), changes in disease management (P < .001), and the number of teledermatology visits (P < .001) were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Conclusions  Live interactive teledermatology consultations result in changes in diagnosis and disease management in most consultations. The numbers of live interactive teledermatology visits and changes in diagnosis and disease management are significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento.

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