Teledermatology: Virtual access to quality dermatology care and beyond

Teledermatology is the treatment of skin disease whereby there is transfer of electronic medical information from one provider in one location to another provider at a different location. There are two primary forms of Telederm: store-and-forward method and live/real-time interactive dermatology, which are both discussed in this article. The potential benefits of teledermatology include increased healthcare system efficiency, reductions in patient wait time from evaluation to treatment, and improvements in overall patient access. This article discusses the conditions suitable for face-to-face consults versus teledermatology consult, the limitations of teledermatology, and the ethical considerations of this patient care service modality.