Teledermatology

[thatuvicguy]

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Hi there,

I've just recently been turned on to dermatology as a 2nd year med after our systems block on integument. As I've explored on the web I've come across a few references to 'teledermatology'. For example, Harvard's program: http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/dermatology/telederm/index.aspx I can't seem to find any discussion on the forum about this.

Am I being naive in seeing this technological advance as possibly introducing the possibility of pursuing a career in dermatology outside of a major center (eg. a local nurse located in bigger center and high-resolution webcam. Is this already being done? I guess income would be significantly lower without procedural work but perhaps you could just do this for a few weeks here and there?

Just curious.
thatuvicguy

 

[Taurus]

I think you should worry more about the local FP taking your derm cases rather than someone in another country doing it. Since most derm cases are not considered emergencies, I could see this going somewhere though.

 

[thatuvicguy]

I think you should worry more about the local FP taking your derm cases rather than someone in another country doing it. Since most derm cases are not considered emergencies, I could see this going somewhere though.

I think you sort of misjudged where I was coming from on this - I'm interested in the prospects of using telederm to my advantage to live a more flexible lifestyle in terms of location should I choose to pursue derm. No fears about turf 🙂

Sooo, does anyone know if this is happening yet?

 

[thatuvicguy]

Well, since it's kind of quiet around here I procrastinated a little and found quite a good review of the topic of teledermatology on eMedicine. Here is the link if anyone's interested: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic527.htm

 

[Taurus]

I'm interested in the prospects of using telederm to my advantage to live a more flexible lifestyle in terms of location should I choose to pursue derm.

Lol. You can't say "tele" without thinking "outsourcing" in the back of your mind.

 

[ezmoney1]

has anyone tried to make an appointment with a dermatologist recently? i think there will be plenty of patients to see.

I mean would you really trust a diagnosis from a derm. whose only exam was by webcam.

 

[ParaVert]

Telederm is very real. Although I'm a pain management fellow in Houston with NO interest in derm, my father is a dermatologist in Columbia, SC. After a few decades of private practice, he is now at the VA there. He is in charge of setting up the telederm thing, linking about half a dozen VA's around the southeast. They will be using high-resolution web-cams and monitors. The govt. is investing millions in this technology.

Now derms can kick back in a dark room and make cash just like radiologists. Now if only I could get a robot to drive my needles under fluoro....

 

[PathOne]

I've had hands on experience with Telederm. And frankly, it's been disappointing. Of course, the technology will evolve, but even then I can't see it used outside very remote areas for routine cases. I guess Rads would be a better field for this technology, but that's outside my field of expertise.

 

[Taurus]

Now derms can kick back in a dark room and make cash just like radiologists.

Interesting. Do you really think rads are gonna want company in that dark room?