Teletriage for Provision of Dermatologic Care: A Pilot Program in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Background: The scarcity of dermatologists has prompted the creation of innovative methods for delivering dermatologic care. Methods: Teletriage is a method used in teledermatology to efficiently assess skin complaints in patients who do not have prompt access to conventional dermatologic care. Their primary care clinicians are provided with management recommendations, reassured that the lesion of concern is benign, or recommended to send their patient for a face-to-face dermatology visit. The Providence VA Medical Center conducted a pilot program testing the utility of teletriage for patients with skin complaints from June 2011 to August 2011. Results: The pilot program revealed that with the teletriage protocol, face-to-face visits were reduced by 38%. This program suggests that teletriage could be a useful tool for providing efficient dermatologic care, and has led to broader implementation. Conclusion: Teletriage is a potentially useful approach for efficiently addressing specific dermatologic complaints and improving access to care for those complaints.