Global Pulse Blog

Part four of this series introduces telemedicine technology and one application of such technology, teledermatology.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine allows health providers in remote areas to transfer information for medical consultation anywhere in the world and serves to support local health workers through discussion and access to pertinent educational materials. Many nations in the developing world have a dire shortage of doctors and other needed health care resources. Therefore, affordable, easy-to-use technologies are imperative for providing care and much needed educational opportunities as well as reducing the limitations imposed by scarce resources.

There are numerous benefits to telemedicine technology including improving patient access to medical care, empowering providers by serving as an educational tool and allowing for more efficient use of health care resources.

Capturing a clinical photograph for use in a mobile teledermatology consultation from Botswana

The most common form of telemedicine is store-and-forward technology which allows for information capture and transfer to a distinct consultant for review and feedback at a later time. International Teledermatology can be utilized via a standard internet-based service which is currently being used at several urban centers in Africa and around the world or using mobile-phone-based technology.

Teledermatology in sub-Saharan Africa: The Teledermatology Africa Project

One telemedicine project which serves providers and patients in sub-Saharan Africa is The Teledermatology Africa Project, a teleconsultation service and electronic learning program which strives to link medical centers in Sub-Saharan Africa with more specialized dermatology services in Europe and the US. Primary collaborating institutions include Departments of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Austria under the director of Dr. Steven Kaddu, and University of Pennsylvania, USA under the direction of Dr. Carrie Kovarik. Since its founding in January 2007, medical centers in Botswana, Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda have utilized the service to receive feedback on dermatologic care. Additionally, the Africa Teledermatology Project provides a valuable educational resource for participants, with a curriculum of educational materials covering general and HIV-related skin diseases, case-based presentations and information on how to participate in the program and perform common dermatologic procedures.

The Africa Teledermatology Project Website

Mobile-phone based technology is increasingly being utilized for transfer of information for teleconsutaltion. Not only is mobile teledermatology an accurate diagnosis tool, it also allows for rapid information exchange and eliminates the need for a computer and internet service, allowing for increased access to teledermatologic consultation services. It also has economic benefits, significantly reducing the need for referrals to dermatologists and reducing the support staff needed. This simple and efficient technology allows the user to capture information and photographs to be sent to a remote dermatologist for consultation and advice regarding diagnosis and management. The user simply gathers and record patient information in the phone, uses the mobile phone to take clinical photographs of the patient, text-records any additional symptoms and submits the consultation to a remote clinician via the mobile phone.

Click Diagnostics, in conjunction with Carrie Kovarik, MD, are developing and validating the use of mobile telemedicine in areas where medical assistance is critically needed, including the diagnosis of cervical cancer, HIV, and skin diseases in rural areas of developing countries.