The Global Benefits of Teledermatology
September 28, 2009
Monologue.
Sharon welcomed the listeners and talked about the importance of water in life and life in water. She said that it is imperative for everyone to realize the importance of water, to drink plenty of water and to carry water with them if they are unsure of a water source. Dehydration, or lack of water, is out of control in our world and causes or contributes to ailments from allergies to obesity.
Guest: April Armstrong, MD
April Armstrong, MD (Sacramento, CA), Assistant Professor of Dermatology, UC Davis Medical Center. "Teledermatology and Dermatologist Shortage"
Dr. Armstrong is a Dermatologist in Sacramento, CA. Her special interest is teledermatology because of the increasing rate of skin cancers and the nationwide shortage of dermatologists. Often, there are no dermatologists in an area, and even where there are, it may take months to get an appointment.
With teledermatology, the primary care physician photographs the problem and arranges a video teleconference with the dermatologist (or simply sends it to the doctor). This can be done quickly by the dermatologist and doesn't cut into patient time.
Currently, the system is doctor to doctor but it could eventually become doctor to patient and it could eventually utilize the Internet. Above all, patients need to be assertive with their primary care doctors and make sure that troubling symptoms are not overlooked.
Categories: health and wellness; 2009