A 14‐year review of a UK teledermatology service: experience of over 40 000 teleconsultations

Summary

Background

There is a paucity of published evidence of established teledermatology (TD) services in the UK. An in‐house TD service using store‐and‐forward technology was set up at a large regional dermatology department in 2004.

Aim

To review the TD service at our centre, including teleconsultation numbers, coding of diagnoses and patient outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective data were retrieved using the electronic patient database, from 31 July 2004 to 31 July 2018. More detailed information on patient outcomes was obtained from patient notes and histology records. A paper questionnaire was distributed to 100 patients to obtain patient feedback.

Results

In total, 40 201 teleconsultations were made over 14 years, and 64% of cases were coded (n = 25 555), of which 77% were lesions. The most common coded lesions were benign naevus (25%), seborrhoeic keratosis (22%) and basal cell carcinoma (19%). Of the total number of cases, 50% were discharged to their general practitioner with advice, 34% were booked for surgery and 16% were booked for a face‐to‐face appointment. In the survey, 82% of patients surveyed felt that the service was 'good' or 'very good'. A detailed study between 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2016 showed that there were 383 patients (10%) with no diagnosis made following teleconsultation, suggesting diagnostic uncertainty. Reasons for this included lack of diagnostic features, possibility of malignancy and service factors. Within this cohort, there was 68% diagnostic concordance.

Conclusions

We have set up a successful TD service at a UK centre, which has prevented 16 282 face‐to‐face appointments over 14 years. Patient feedback has been very good. Review of cases with diagnostic uncertainty provides important information for service improvement and has not previously been documented.

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