Analyzing disparities in access to teledermatology compared with dermatology clinic visits before, during, and after COVID-19 quarantine.

MedStar author(s):
Citation: Clinics in Dermatology. 41(1):207-214, 2023 Jan-Feb.PMID: 36336317Institution: MedStar Washington Hospital CenterDepartment: Dermatology | Dermatology ResidencyForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Journal ArticleSubject headings: *COVID-19 | *Dermatology | *Telemedicine | Ambulatory Care | COVID-19/ep [Epidemiology] | COVID-19/pc [Prevention & Control] | Humans | Pandemics/pc [Prevention & Control] | Quarantine | Retrospective Studies | United StatesYear: 2023Local holdings: Available online through MWHC library: 1995 - 2010, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - presentISSN:
  • 0738-081X
Name of journal: Clinics in dermatologyAbstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in dermatologic care, likely exacerbating health disparities for specific minority populations. The use of teledermatology has also become more prevalent during this period. The aim of this study was to determine if the proportion of teledermatology versus office-based visits varied significantly during three study periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective was to determine whether there are significant differences in the use of office-based dermatology versus teledermatology care across the following demographic subgroups: insurance type, race/ethnicity, age, and language during the same periods. A chart review of dermatology visits in electronic medical records at a tertiary referral center in Washington, DC, was conducted. The overall telehealth visit rate was 0% in the prequarantine period, 61.12% during the quarantine period, and 10.59% in the postquarantine period. After assessing telehealth utilization rates among the demographic subgroups, we noted that Medicaid users, Black patients, 64-year-olds or older, and English speakers may benefit the least from telehealth services. Teledermatology use necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic may have promoted health care disparities for specific marginalized populations. Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.All authors: Ajilore P, Cardis MA, Ewulu A, Geng X, Hussain AN, Jallow MOriginally published: Original year of publication: 2022Fiscal year: Fiscal year of original publication: FY2023Digital Object Identifier:
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Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode
Journal Article MedStar Authors Catalog Article 36336317 Available 36336317

Available online through MWHC library: 1995 - 2010, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - present

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in dermatologic care, likely exacerbating health disparities for specific minority populations. The use of teledermatology has also become more prevalent during this period. The aim of this study was to determine if the proportion of teledermatology versus office-based visits varied significantly during three study periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective was to determine whether there are significant differences in the use of office-based dermatology versus teledermatology care across the following demographic subgroups: insurance type, race/ethnicity, age, and language during the same periods. A chart review of dermatology visits in electronic medical records at a tertiary referral center in Washington, DC, was conducted. The overall telehealth visit rate was 0% in the prequarantine period, 61.12% during the quarantine period, and 10.59% in the postquarantine period. After assessing telehealth utilization rates among the demographic subgroups, we noted that Medicaid users, Black patients, 64-year-olds or older, and English speakers may benefit the least from telehealth services. Teledermatology use necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic may have promoted health care disparities for specific marginalized populations. Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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