Dermatological video consultations for German prisons : Experiences from teledermatological consultations 2020to2022

Abstract

With increasing shortage of medical personnel also in the medical care in German correctional facilities, telemedicine has been used since 2016, initially in projects and then for regular medical care. Since 2019, there is the possibility of dermatological expertise in regular video consultations. The benefits of an interdisciplinary online consultation with video and store and forward technology for dermatological issues are highlighted in terms of efficiency and feasibility. A descriptive analysis of 450 dermatological video consultations for German correctional facilities from February 2020 to July 2022 was carried out with respect to procedures, indications and demand. Requests were made via astandardised form with optional photographs, which were sent via a secure cloud to the dermatology department in store and forward mode. The majority of cases could be presented live in aregular weekly video consultation and only single cases required an acute presentation within 24 h. The spectrum of skin diseases was comparable to cases presenting to adermatology outpatient clinic. The interdisciplinary consultation management together with colleagues from general medicine enabled the transfer of the cases to the medical personnel at the correctional facility on site for follow-up and further medical procedures. Treatment could be started in all cases without delay. Teledermatology represents an important contribution to medical care in German correctional facilities and the interdisciplinary cooperation saves time and resources in the presentation and treatment of skin diseases.