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Teledermatology service

Dermatology

If you are referred to Dermatology at Cambridge University Hospitals, you may be offered a Teledermatology appointment. These clinics take place in the community at a number of GP practices and may prevent the need for you to attend the hospital site for your condition.

Video - What is teledermatology

Link: https://vimeo.com/1005499425?share=copy

What is teledermatology - Video transcript

00:03: This video is for all patients, their family or carers who are invited to attend a Teledermatology clinic appointment organised by your GP.

00:13: Or Cambridge University Hospitals. Teledermatology involves the use of a special high-quality contact camera, which is used to take photographs of your skin problem.

00:30: Following this photo, a consultant dermatologist will remotely review your photos and referral. Only lesions stated on your GP referral letter will be photographed.

00:47: You will attend a medical photography clinic appointment in the community setting, which may be at the GP surgery or a community diagnostic center.

00:57: More local to you than the hospital. These locations have on-site complimentary parking and are wheelchair accessible. A medical photographer will take photographs of your skin concern.

01:11: As referred by your GP, using a special camera lens. The dermatologist will then carefully review your photographs and your medical history to confirm a treatment plan.

01:23: A decision could be made virtually instead of you being required to attend a hospital clinic appointment. Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire.

01:39: This may be sent electronically via your MyChart account. The medical photographer will provide you with a copy of the questionnaire in the waiting room.

01:50: If you have been unable to do this electronically when you arrive at the clinic, reception staff will direct you to the correct.

01:58: Waiting area where the medical photographer will greet you. For some patients, the doctor will be able to diagnose your problem, provide reassurance and write and discharge you back to your GP.

02:14: With a treatment plan for your condition. Alternatively, if the consultant feels that you require further assessment, they could request that you attend.

02:24: A face to face appointment with a dermatologist for further review. This could be urgently or as a review in a few months.

02:34: Refer you for surgical treatment, either a biopsy or removal of the lesion. This sample of skin will be taken for diagnostic testing.

02:43: Or they may issue a prescription for treatment which can be collected from your GP surgery. You will receive a copy of the consultant's letter.

02:53: So you are always kept up to date with what is happening with your care and what action may be required next.

At your Teledermatology appointment, you will see a medical photographer, who will use a special, high-quality camera to take photographs of your skin problem. Your photographs will be reviewed by a Consultant Dermatologist who will decide if you need to be seen at a clinic or whether you should receive a management plan by post or a telephone consultation.

Please see the Teledermatology patient information leaflet on the right hand side of this page for more detailed information.

If you are referred into the service and have any questions, please contact 01223 806000.

After your appointment, you may be contacted to complete a patient survey about your experience using this service.

Patient feedback on Teledermatology service

A patient experience survey was carried out in January 2021 with a view to identifying patient experience of the pilot Teledermatology service. 188 patients were seen and sent a survey between October 2020 and November 2020. We received feedback from 111 of these patients.

These findings were wholly positive, with comments around the efficiency and effectiveness of the service. Patients were encouraged to identify areas for improvement and mostly these related to improving the information received before and after their Teledermatology appointment. Several patients highlighted that they would have preferred a full body skin check in addition to those lesions they were referred for. This is not something that the Teledermatology service is designed to provide at this time. We have acknowledged these comments and have adapted our patient information leaflet to reflect this.