Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings
Skin diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, access to dermatology services are critically limited, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC), where there is an overall shortage of physicians. Implementation of long-range technological support too...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/3/84 |
| _version_ | 1811307259194507264 |
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| author | Victoria Williams Carrie Kovarik |
| author_facet | Victoria Williams Carrie Kovarik |
| author_sort | Victoria Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Skin diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, access to dermatology services are critically limited, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC), where there is an overall shortage of physicians. Implementation of long-range technological support tools has been growing in an effort to provide quality dermatology care to even the most remote settings globally. eHealth strategies can provide realistic healthcare solutions if implemented in a feasible and sensitive way, customizing tools to address the unique needs and resource limitations of the local setting. This article summarizes the various types of telemedicine and mobile health (mHealth) tools and their practical applications and benefits for patient care. The challenges and barriers of teledermatology are discussed, as well as steps to consider when implementing a new teledermatology initiative. eHealth arguably offers one of the most flexible and realistic tools for providing critically needed access to dermatology skills in underserved LMICs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:01:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8af06227553a44e49d4dd12dd7104b67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:01:14Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-8af06227553a44e49d4dd12dd7104b672022-12-22T02:53:08ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662018-08-01338410.3390/tropicalmed3030084tropicalmed3030084Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field SettingsVictoria Williams0Carrie Kovarik1Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USADepartment of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USASkin diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, access to dermatology services are critically limited, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC), where there is an overall shortage of physicians. Implementation of long-range technological support tools has been growing in an effort to provide quality dermatology care to even the most remote settings globally. eHealth strategies can provide realistic healthcare solutions if implemented in a feasible and sensitive way, customizing tools to address the unique needs and resource limitations of the local setting. This article summarizes the various types of telemedicine and mobile health (mHealth) tools and their practical applications and benefits for patient care. The challenges and barriers of teledermatology are discussed, as well as steps to consider when implementing a new teledermatology initiative. eHealth arguably offers one of the most flexible and realistic tools for providing critically needed access to dermatology skills in underserved LMICs.http://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/3/84teledermatologyeHealthmHealthlong range diagnosisdermatologytelepathologytechnologyskin disease |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Williams Carrie Kovarik Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease teledermatology eHealth mHealth long range diagnosis dermatology telepathology technology skin disease |
| title | Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings |
| title_full | Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings |
| title_fullStr | Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings |
| title_short | Long-Range Diagnosis of and Support for Skin Conditions in Field Settings |
| title_sort | long range diagnosis of and support for skin conditions in field settings |
| topic | teledermatology eHealth mHealth long range diagnosis dermatology telepathology technology skin disease |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/3/84 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT victoriawilliams longrangediagnosisofandsupportforskinconditionsinfieldsettings AT carriekovarik longrangediagnosisofandsupportforskinconditionsinfieldsettings |