TeleDermatology: Timely care when you need it

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words in dermatology.

To get Veterans the dermatology care they need, Lebanon VA is using image capturing and telehealth to consult with specialists at other VA facilities. Most clinics that are part of Lebanon VA Healthcare System in Pennsylvania now offer same-day access to TeleDermatology. The system has embraced telehealth, making it convenient for both Veterans and providers.

So how does TeleDermatology work? A Veteran can connect with a VA dermatologist regardless of location and receive an evaluation at a facility close to them. At the facility, a trained telehealth clinical technician captures images of the skin and sends them to the board-certified dermatologist for review.

The dermatologist often reviews the images within 24 hours of submission and provides a diagnosis and treatment recommendations. If an in-person follow-up is needed, the Lebanon team can initiate treatment beforehand, making the visit more productive.

In at 10:15, out at 3:58

Specialty care often requires long wait times for an appointment. Telehealth is changing how Veterans receive specialty care. One Veteran who is enrolled at Lebanon VA was able to get cancerous cells removed within a day of diagnosis.

The Veteran first called the triage nurse at 10:15 a.m. after noticing a wound was bleeding. The Veteran was in their primary care team’s office by 2:00 p.m. The primary care team took pictures of the wound, arranged a TeleDermatology consult and shared the images with an off-site dermatology specialist by 2:30 p.m. The dermatologist reviewed the images by 3:05 p.m.

The images captured by the Veteran’s primary care team revealed large cancerous skin cells. The Veteran, who was still in the parking lot, was instructed to return to the dermatology clinic immediately. By 3:58 p.m. that same day, providers removed the cancerous cells.

Within two hours of being seen, the Veteran received a diagnosis and treatment. Before TeleDermatology, the Veteran might have faced a two- to-three-month delay, potentially worsening the outcome.

Avoiding unnecessary procedures

TeleDermatology can be used to diagnose and address various skin conditions, not all of which are life-threatening.

Another Veteran enrolled in care at Lebanon VA visited the emergency department for a new lesion. The emergency staff arranged a same-day TeleDermatology consult. The dermatologist determined that the lesion was a non-urgent condition that could be addressed with minor treatment. With guidance from the provider, the lesion healed before the Veteran’s next in-person dermatology appointment.

Early intervention made possible by telehealth prevented the lesion from worsening. Without TeleDermatology, a painful procedure would have been the likely treatment.

Whether a Veteran is concerned about a rash or a lesion that won’t heal, TeleDermatology offers Veterans access to quality care when and where they need it.

To learn more about telehealth at VA, visit VA Telehealth Services.