Progress in Australian teledermatology

Because of their remoteness, the majority of rural towns in Australia are d isadvantaged in terms of access to dermatological services. Telemedicine of fers one solution. Since the mid-1990s, Australian dermatologists have expe rimented with telemedicine as an adjunct to clinical practice. The technica l viability of teledermatology was first demonstrated in 1997. In 1999, the accuracy and reliability of teledermatology were demonstrated in a real-li fe urban setting. In 2001, Broken Hill (in western New South Wales), a loca tion remote from dermatology services, served as a trial site for the insti tution of teledermatology as the primary method of accessing dermatological services. High patient and general practitioner acceptability and positive medical outcomes were demonstrated, but the study also revealed unexpected barriers and pitfalls in the effective operation of rural teledermatology.