BACKGROUND: The dermatologic needs of many communities in the United States and worldwide are underserved. Telemedicine enables physicians and non-physician primary care providers to use modern telecommunications devices to gain access to specialist consultations promptly and with much less travel. The independently developed telemedicine programs described herein support 3 traditionally underserved populations: Pacific Islanders, migrant farmworkers, and prison inmates. OBSERVATIONS: In 3 independently designed telemedicine programs, dermatology emerged as the specialty most used by remote practitioners. Patients were presented for both diagnosis and treatment and in the setting of initial evaluation and as part of follow-up care. CONCLUSION: Teledermatology is a useful way to provide dermatologic support to remote or underserved communities.

Dermatology↗

PubMed1996

Telemedicine: caring for patients across boundaries.

Telemedicine combines computer, video and telecommunications to provide healthcare to patients at distant sites. With the improved camera and transmission technologies of the 1990s, telemedicine can be used in a variety of situations. There are two basic technological systems: live interactive video and still image ("store and forward"). Potential users include patients who live in rural or difficult to reach geographic areas, who are confined (i.e. prison inmates), Telemedicine can allow ambulatory patients to continue living at home rather than moving into costly nursing facilities. Home telemedicine also allows greater responsiveness and higher frequency of visits by home care nurses, potentially reducing future hospital visits and costs. Two home telemedicine models are the personal telemedicine unit and the enhanced personal telemedicine module with pc-based video. Telemedicine technologies developed by the military for use on the battlefield that could be adapted for civilian use include medical simulations, individual monitoring devices and biosensors, portable retinal display monitors, life support for trauma/transport, and diagnostic ultrasound imagery. Ultimately, the benefits of telemedicine will be consistency of care, easy access to specialized consultants, higher responsiveness to patient needs, and lower overall healthcare costs.

Home Care Services↗

PubMed1995

Improvement of eumycetoma with itraconazole.

Treatment of eumycetoma, both medical and surgical, is difficult and often unsuccessful. We describe a case of maduromycosis, 18 years in duration, with significant improvement after 6 months of itraconazole therapy.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

The contact urticaria syndrome.

Contact urticaria may occur following contact of the skin or mucous membranes with a large number of diverse substances. When localized angioedematous reactions of the eyes or oropharynx are caused by proteinaceous substances, the distinction between contact urticaria and common inhalant or food allergies is subtle. The time course of the reaction, negative controls, or occurrence of generalized symptoms do not constitute unequivocal evidence of immunologic contact urticaria, and confirmation by RAST or passive transfer testing is required. Clinical symptoms range from mild, localized erythema to generalized anaphylaxis. When contact urticaria becomes superimposed on eczematous skin, immediate reactions that resemble eczema more than urticaria may occur. Dermatologists must increase their awareness of these clinical reactions and evaluate the external environment when searching for causes of localized urticarial reactions.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1972

The Oberlin College health plan.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Comprehensive Health Care↗