Smartphone-enabled screening more efficient for referrals

The dermatologist responded to the primary care doctor teledermoscopy referral in less than two days on average, while the dermatologist responded to the primary care doctor who referred the patient via traditional means in five days on average. The doctors who triaged patients using teledermoscopy marked 19 patients as high priority malignant melanoma patients.

The ability to attach photos to referrals greatly enhances the ability of the specialist to evaluate the condition and triage the patient accordingly. Hospitals should prioritize technologies which enable this approach.