Teledermatological services at a Swiss university hospital - evaluation of patient benefits and economic impact .

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of online consultation services in a Swiss dermatological clinic as a tool for triage, focusing on time savings, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.

METHODS

Over a period of 30 months, data were generated from a publicly available store-and-forward teledermatological platform (www.derma2go.com) hosted by the Dermatology Department of the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) for this analytical observational retrospective single-center study. Anonymized metadata from the online consultations and evaluation forms, as well as data from optional in-person follow-up consultations were analyzed.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 2207 patients (mean age 39.4 years, 51.2% female). The three most common diagnoses were atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, and perioral dermatitis/rosacea. 89.3% rated their satisfaction with the service at 7 or higher out of 10. The median waiting time for responses by dermatologists was 13.4 h. The service was financially profitable.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study investigated the potential benefits of incorporating teledermatology into the services offered by a Swiss university hospital. It was a valuable tool to reduce waiting times and costs while achieving a high level of satisfaction. These findings can aid hospitals in choosing cost-effective and patient-friendly teledermatological services.