Efficient Triage and Improved Patient Care: Five years of Teledermatology in Styria

IntroductionTo improve dermatological care in underserved rural regions, the "Teledermatology in Styria" project launched on January 1st, 2020. This project digitally connected general practitioners (GP) with dermatologists (DERM), funded by Styrian Health Fund and supported by a partnership between Styrian Medical Association, Austrian Health Insurance Fund Styria, Universities Department of Dermatology, and e-derm-consult GesmbH. MethodologyThe project allows GPs to submit clinical and dermoscopic images of patient skin conditions, with relevant clinical information, via a "store-and-forward" teledermatology service to DERM, who responds with diagnosis and treatment recommendations. After five years, the collected data was analyzed, and acceptance among patients and doctors was assessed using questionnaires. ResultsOf 5119 cases, 19% required no therapy, while 61% were managed by their GPs following teledermatological consultation. Referrals included 12% for routine dermatological appointments, 3% for urgent appointments, and 2% for hospital visits. The case spectrum covered all dermato-venereological conditions, with neoplasms accounting for only 34%. Patient satisfaction exceeded 95%, based on 692 returned questionnaires. ConclusionOnly 17% of patients required additional specialist dermatological examination after teledermatology. The notably faster diagnosis and the surprisingly high level of patient satisfaction highlight the benefits of teledermatological consultations.