Teledermatology as a tool for communication between general practitioners and dermatologists

A feasibility study of teledermatology was undertaken in Groningen. Six gen eral practitioners (GPs) sent digital images by email, along with relevant patient information, to dermatologists at the Martini Ziekenhuis Groningen, a general non-academic hospital. The dermatologists returned their respons es by email. A total of 89 cases were dealt with in this way. On average, t he GPs took three photographs per patient. The time taken by the GP to prod uce and transmit the images, and to implement the telemedicine advice recei ved from the dermatologist, was 9 min and 3 min, respectively. The time spe nt on diagnosis, provision of advice and response by email amounted to 10 m in for the dermatologist. It was concluded that teleconsultations by email are feasible in the daily practice of GPs and dermatologists in a general n on-academic hospital. Generally, GPs, dermatologists and patients were sati sfied with teleconsultations. Furthermore, GPs reported that 63% of the tel econsultations were of educational value.