The Virtual Mole Clinic: preliminary results from the Plymouth skin cancerscreening study using telemedicine

This study evaluated a skin cancer screening service between primary and se condary care in Plymouth using a store and forward telemedicine system. The primary objective was to minimize the time from a patient presenting to a GP with a suspicious lesion to the lesion being assessed and diagnosed by a plastic surgeon. This study retrospectively assessed the practical, techni cal and operational aspects of incorporating telemedicine into everyday pra ctice and patient satisfaction. Both the GP practice and plastic surgeons w ere equipped with the appropriate technology for creating, transmitting and accessing an electronic telemedicine record (ETR) via an ISDN 2 line. Pati ents with suspicious lesions accessed the GP via Mole Check Clinics. The GF captured and transmitted an ETR consisting of digital images and relevant clinical data. In a virtual mole clinic, the plastic surgeon accessed and r eviewed the ETR. The expert opinion was entered directly into the ETR and t ransmitted to the GP within 48 hours. All patients were offered a face-to-f ace consultation at a real mole clinic within 7 days. Outcomes demonstrated patient and clinician satisfaction and the ability to deliver high quality diagnostic images and resulting expert opinion. This study informed a larg er study for future applications of telemedicine.