(BRIEF) A service evaluation conducted through the University of East Anglia reveals an innovative initiative in which GPs used cameras to photograph skin conditions and sent high-resolution photographs to dermatologists for examination. With more than 3,000 patients involved, this state-of-the-art service has especially reduced wait times for hospital appointments by allowing dermatologists to respond to more than 90% of queries within 36 hours. Nearly two-thirds of patients were to be treated at number one care, avoiding long waiting lists, while urgent cases were prioritized. review through a representative within two weeks. The good fortune of this task paves the way for its potential implementation across the country, promising more effective patient care and reduced wait times across the UK healthcare system.
(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, March 23, 2024 – /EuropaWire/ – Giving GPs cameras to photograph skin disorders can reduce wait times for hospital appointments, according to a new service assessment from the University of East Anglia.
A state-of-the-art service involving more than 3,000 patients has enabled GPs to send high-resolution photographs of skin disorders to dermatologists for review.
The results, published today, show that the service has enabled a faster response for patients and has saved many other people from having to wait to see a hospital specialist.
Dermatologists were required to respond to more than 90% of requests within 36 hours and responded to all requests within 72 hours.
Nearly two-thirds of patients were able to be treated at the number one care, meaning they didn’t have to sign up for a long waiting list, about 10 months, to see a hospital dermatologist.
But some patients have been upgraded to see an emergency representative within two weeks.
The team now hopes the service will be rolled out across the UK to treat patients more successfully and reduce waiting times.
Dr Julii Brainard, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Patients come to their GP for a range of skin conditions, such as rashes and pimples that have changed in length and shape. In many cases, GPs want to refer patients to dermatologists, but they wait. “Query lists can be long.
“We wanted to see if uploading images and patient history details to a purpose-built platform, to be evaluated remotely by dermatologists, could reduce patient wait times. “
Doctors at doctors’ offices in the Norfolk and Waveney domain conducted electronic consultations with hospital dermatologists about skin situations that would not be considered urgent.
A special communication platform has been created so that GPs can share high-resolution photographs of the affected skin area, as well as the patient’s history, to start a discussion with other consultants.
At that point, dermatologists can make a quick diagnosis, ask for more information, or agree to see the patient in person.
Dr Paul Everden, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School and North Norfolk Primary Care, said: “We’ve been tracking what’s happened to dermatologists’ waiting lists and the satisfaction levels of patients, practitioners and dermatologists.
“Instead of having to wait to see a hospital consultant, we found that the service allowed for a quick solution for patients with skin problems.
“This has been achieved by providing GPs with devices to create high-quality photographs and simplifying the uploading of those photographs and patient history to a secure messaging platform between GPs and representative dermatologists.
“The dermatologists had to meet the ambition of the project: to answer all questions within 72 hours.
“Some patients have also been upgraded to see a dermatologist urgently, preferably within two weeks. This update was infrequent enough not to overwhelm the emergency care pathway.
“We ran the programme in 2021-2022 and during the time it was in operation, dermatology waiting lists in other parts of England were developing at a faster rate than in Norfolk and Waveney.
“This suggests that in our trial something else happened to slow the expansion of dermatology waiting lists.
“Patients, representative dermatologists and general practitioners have been very happy with the service, and general practitioners have also developed skills in identifying benign skin conditions. We were able to identify spaces where the wisdom of GPs can be simply complex and personalised educational meetings were organised. to extra-professional development.
“The data from this assessment were used for shared decision-making service in dermatology and to explore opportunities to expand a similar discussion platform between GPs and experts for other types of fitness issues in the region. “
This allocation was carried out through the University of East Anglia in collaboration with North Norfolk Primary Care and NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group.
The evaluation was funded through UEA Health and Social Care Partners.
“Retention of Dermatology Patients in the Primary Care with Secondary Care Dialogue: An Evaluation of Services” is published in the journal Annals of Dermatology and Venereology.
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SOURCE: University of East Anglia
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