Dermatology

The area of teledermatology is showing great potential in delivering personalized, quality patient care despite a critical shortage of qualified dermatologists.  Through the use of virtual visits, digital cameras and the Internet, patients and their dermatologists can interact and stay connected throughout the course of treatment. 

Center for Connected Health Initiatives

E-Visits

This trial evaluated the value of using a web-based clinical workflow prototype to conduct follow-up dermatologic care for patients with mild to moderate facial acne.

Nantucket Dermatology Clinic

The interactive teledermatology practice at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Nantucket Island and the ambulatory clinics at Massachusetts General Hospital provide patients on Nantucket Island with access to Harvard-affiliated dermatologists via interactive video conferencing.

Psoriasis eCommunities

The aim of this online survey study was to evaluate the user population and type of participation taking place within online support groups for individuals affected by psoriasis.

DermaShare

DermaShare: A Secure, Fast and Easily Accessible Dermatology Online Image Solution

Digital Imaging

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of physicians to track the progress of patients’ acne using digital images taken by the patients themselves.

Sunscreen Adherence

The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of text-message reminders delivered via cell phone on adherence to sunscreen application.

Center for Connected Health Initiatives

E-Visits

This trial evaluated the value of using a web-based clinical workflow prototype to conduct follow-up dermatologic care for patients with mild to moderate facial acne.

Nantucket Dermatology Clinic

The interactive teledermatology practice at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Nantucket Island and the ambulatory clinics at Massachusetts General Hospital provide patients on Nantucket Island with access to Harvard-affiliated dermatologists via interactive video conferencing.

Psoriasis eCommunities

The aim of this online survey study was to evaluate the user population and type of participation taking place within online support groups for individuals affected by psoriasis.

DermaShare

DermaShare: A Secure, Fast and Easily Accessible Dermatology Online Image Solution

Digital Imaging

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of physicians to track the progress of patients’ acne using digital images taken by the patients themselves.

Sunscreen Adherence

The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of text-message reminders delivered via cell phone on adherence to sunscreen application.

Stories

Christine, E-Visits patient (Video)

Christine participated in our Dermatology E-visits study. She describes her experience using e-visits for all of her follow-up care with her dermatologist. “I was able to develop a rapport with my doctor”, says Christine.

Stories

Christine, E-Visits patient (Video)

Christine participated in our Dermatology E-visits study. She describes her experience using e-visits for all of her follow-up care with her dermatologist. “I was able to develop a rapport with my doctor”, says Christine.

Research Materials & External Resources

Perspectives on Acne: What Twitter Can Teach Health Care Providers

Twitter is emerging as a popular forum where people exchange health information. Health providers can not only learn about the perceptions and misperceptions of diseases like acne, but they might also communicate reliable medical information.

May 2013 | Melissa Shive, BA; Mehul Bhatt, BA; Andrew Cantino, MSCS; Joseph Kvedar, MD; Kamal Jethwani, MD, MPH

Text Messages as a Reminder Aid and Educational Tool in Adults and Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study

This study illustrates that the use of text messages, a simple and inexpensive technology, may be effective as a reminder aid and educational tool in young patients with atopic dermatitis.

July 2010 | Venessa Pena-Robichaux, MD; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD; Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH

A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Online Follow-up Visits in the Management of Acne

This study evaluated whether delivering acne follow-up care via an asynchronous, remote online visit (e-visit) platform produces equivalent clinical outcomes to office care.

April 2010 | Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH; Hagit Bergman, MD, MPH; Christy M. Williams, MD; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD

Text-message reminders to improve sunscreen use: a randomized, controlled trial using electronic monitoring

Short-term data demonstrate that using existing cellular telephone text-message technology offers an innovative, low-cost, and effective method of improving adherence to sunscreen application.

November 2009 | Armstrong AW, Watson AJ, Makredes M, Frangos JE, Kimball AB, Kvedar JC

The Role of Online Support Communities: Benefits of Expanded Social Networks to Patients With Psoriasis

Online support communities appear to offer both a valuable educational resource and a source of psychological and social support for individuals with psoriasis.

January 2009 | Shereene Z. Idriss, BA; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD; Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH

Staying on top in dermatology - why we must act now to address the capacity challenge

Dermatologists are in great demand, and although this might not sound like cause for complaint, our capacity to provide care for dermatology patients is now being critically stretched.

April 2008 | Watson AJ and Kvedar JC

Telemedicine and teledermatology: Past, present and future

November 2007 | Wurm EM, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Wurm R, Soyer HP

Teledermatology. Review of 917 teleconsults

The authors concluded that digital phototography gives such a high image quality that, based on their experience, it can be stated that a neoplastic lesion that cannot be diagnosed by a high quality digital image with the available technology, rarely could be diagnosed in a face-to-face consult without the aid of complementary exams.

June 2007 | Martínez-García S, del Boz-González J, Martín-González T, Samaniego-González E, Crespo-Erchiga V

Melanoma screening with cellular phones

In this study the authors investigated the feasibility of teleconsultation using a new generation of cellular phones in pigmented skin lesions.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 | Massone C, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Ahlgrimm-Siess V, Gabler G, Ebner C, Peter Soyer H

Economic evaluation of interactive teledermatology compared with conventional care

The objectives of this study were to compare the costs of interactive teledermatology with conventional care, and to evaluate from a healthcare provider perspective whether interactive teledermatology is economically viable in the northeastern region of the United States.

April 2007 | Armstrong AW, Dorer DJ, Lugn NE, Kvedar JC.

Teledermatology

This article addresses why telemedicine is a valuable resource for dermatology, the current extent of its practice, the challenges in validating teledermatology as an effective adjunct to conventional care, and the factors limiting widespread adoption.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007 | Watson AJ, Bergman H, Kvedar JC

Evaluation of digital skin images submitted by patients who received practical training or an online tutorial

The authors evaluated the ability of subjects to capture and submit teledermatology images with a digital camera. They also examined whether participants who received individual training sessions would capture better-quality images than participants who were provided only with self-training.

2006 | Qureshi AA, Brandling-Bennett HA, Giberti S, McClure D, Halpern EF, Kvedar JC.

Research Materials & External Resources

Perspectives on Acne: What Twitter Can Teach Health Care Providers

Twitter is emerging as a popular forum where people exchange health information. Health providers can not only learn about the perceptions and misperceptions of diseases like acne, but they might also communicate reliable medical information.

May 2013 | Melissa Shive, BA; Mehul Bhatt, BA; Andrew Cantino, MSCS; Joseph Kvedar, MD; Kamal Jethwani, MD, MPH

Text Messages as a Reminder Aid and Educational Tool in Adults and Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study

This study illustrates that the use of text messages, a simple and inexpensive technology, may be effective as a reminder aid and educational tool in young patients with atopic dermatitis.

July 2010 | Venessa Pena-Robichaux, MD; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD; Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH

A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Online Follow-up Visits in the Management of Acne

This study evaluated whether delivering acne follow-up care via an asynchronous, remote online visit (e-visit) platform produces equivalent clinical outcomes to office care.

April 2010 | Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH; Hagit Bergman, MD, MPH; Christy M. Williams, MD; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD

Text-message reminders to improve sunscreen use: a randomized, controlled trial using electronic monitoring

Short-term data demonstrate that using existing cellular telephone text-message technology offers an innovative, low-cost, and effective method of improving adherence to sunscreen application.

November 2009 | Armstrong AW, Watson AJ, Makredes M, Frangos JE, Kimball AB, Kvedar JC

The Role of Online Support Communities: Benefits of Expanded Social Networks to Patients With Psoriasis

Online support communities appear to offer both a valuable educational resource and a source of psychological and social support for individuals with psoriasis.

January 2009 | Shereene Z. Idriss, BA; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD; Alice J. Watson, MBChB, MRCP, MPH

Staying on top in dermatology - why we must act now to address the capacity challenge

Dermatologists are in great demand, and although this might not sound like cause for complaint, our capacity to provide care for dermatology patients is now being critically stretched.

April 2008 | Watson AJ and Kvedar JC