Evaluating the impact of store-and-forward teledermatology in a German university hospital setting.

BACKGROUNDIncreasing waiting times for dermatology appointments demand innovative digital solutions. Teledermatology provides an efficient means of remote diagnosis and management of skin diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODSThis study evaluated the implementation and impact of a store-and-forward teledermatology platform at a university hospital, focusing on patient characteristics, diagnostic range, response times, satisfaction, and financial outcomes. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted over 18 months (July 2023-December 2024) at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy, LMU University Hospital, Munich. Data from 629 consultations via the derma2go platform were reviewed using anonymized records and standardized evaluation forms.

RESULTSThe 629 consultations involved patients with a mean age of 38.4 ± 19.2 years; 54.3 % were female. The most frequent diagnoses were acne (6.4 %), atopic dermatitis (5.4 %), and hand eczema (3.3 %), with inflammatory dermatoses accounting for 42.7 % of cases. Median response time was 21.4 hours, and 65.3 % received prescriptions. Patient satisfaction was high, with 76.9 % rating the service > 7/10 and 75.6 % reporting full or partial symptom resolution after 3 weeks. Main motivations were urgency (58.1 %) and time savings (27.1 %). Financially, consultations generated € 30,252 over 18 months.

CONCLUSIONSStore-and-forward teledermatology demonstrated reliability, efficiency, and patient acceptance, effectively reducing waiting times while supporting clinical and economic sustainability.

Abstract from PubMed