DIGITAL IMAGING AND TELEDERMATOLOGY - EDUCATIONAL AND DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS OF A PORTABLE DIGITAL IMAGING-SYSTEM FOR THE TRAINEE DERMATOLOGIST

Teledermatology is no longer a futuristic curiosity; several general p ractices across the UK are now preparing to be electronically linked t o other medical services for the purposes of referral and telediagnosi s.(1) Further, digital imaging in dermatology has been the subject of considerable research in recent years,(2-4) largely because of its app lication to telemedicine.(5) Indeed in the UK, geographically isolated general practices in North Powys have already demonstrated the effect ive delivery of dermatological expertise through a video-conferencing link to a consultant dermatologist at Aberystwyth Hospital, thereby re ducing the need for patients or the consultant to travel long distance s.(6)