Is it possible to get proper dermatological care via telemedicine? The answer is in this article:
Telemedicine includes many different specialties, such as: psychological, nutritional, and physical care, but what about dermatological care in telemedicine?
Dermatological care in telemedicine
Many patients have been skipping appointments with their dermatologist during the coronavirus pandemic, believing it was unnecessary and more important than that.
The patients’ ignoring of the dermatologist’s appointments exacerbated the disease situation for some, in addition to the fact that wearing a mask caused many skin problems from the appearance of pimples and grains.
Here are some questions and answers related to dermatological care in telemedicine:
How to start getting dermatological care in telemedicine?
- The first step when you want to start seeing a dermatologist through telemedicine services is simply to enter the doctor’s page and simply book an online appointment with him.
- It is recommended to check the full competence of the doctor and his previous experiences before making an appointment, as it is not only necessary to read about dermatological care among the services, but rather it must be verified that the treating doctor is a specialist in dermatological care.
How does the doctor diagnose the patient in the dermatological clinic?
The doctor diagnoses the patient through an audio and video call, so that the doctor asks the patient to reveal parts of his body while talking via video or take some pictures of the skin so that the condition is clearly examined.
Is it safe to expose parts of the skin if the doctor asks for it?
A high security and privacy system is followed by the telemedicine service providers, so that the HIPPA system is followed in most cases, according to which the patient can guarantee the confidentiality of his information completely and protect it from hacking.
Physicians have the medical ethics that prevents any patient information from being shared outside the clinic, which emphasizes the need for the patient to verify that the telemedicine services they use are reliable and managed by trusted bodies.
Can dermatological care be obtained via telemedicine for all cases?
Skin care can be obtained via telemedicine for minor cases or periodic reviews, such as: acne, eczema, psoriasis , etc.
On the other hand, access to dermatological care through telemedicine is not appropriate for cancer patients with skin diseases, for example, as these patients suffer from immunodeficiency, which causes them to suffer serious and rare diseases that require direct examination by a doctor.
Are surgical dermatological operations included in dermatological care via telemedicine?
The doctor must see the patient directly in order to perform any of the surgical skin operations, but at the same time the patient can be seen before the operation in order to inform him of the necessary instructions and inspect him after the operation through review appointments that can be taken remotely with the doctor.
It is possible to see the doctor after the end of the operation through telemedicine in order to prescribe medications, and follow up the case for long periods of time without the patient having to visit the doctor’s office directly.
Conclusion
Many people are wondering about dermatological care in telemedicine and how to best apply it, as it is really not only patient reviews but also full diagnosis via video calls.