Asymmetric patterns of patient access to in-person and teledermatologic health care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

To the Editor: Through the COVID-19 pandemic, many dermatology practices across the United States have adapted by providing telemedicine services. However, it remains unclear how teledermatology impacts existing racial and socioeconomic health disparities. Initial studies of teledermatology in the pandemic's early months were relatively small and did not evaluate patterns of patient access.1,2 Here, we present demographic and medical profiles of 14,334 patients seen in-person, by telemedicine, or both in the Department of Dermatology at a large academic health system from March 17 to August 31, 2020 compared to 22,055 patients seen during the same period the year prior.