Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii recently rolled out a teledermatology service, enabling dermatologists to remotely view patient images of skin ailments through the health system’s HealthConnect.
Known as “Tele-derm,” the service started as a pilot project on Maui and the Big Island and is now available to all Kaiser Permanente patients with the intent of improving access to specialists, speed the diagnostic process and improve clinical outcomes, the Oakland-based HMO said in a release.
Through the service, dermatologists review photos sent via secure email server from primary care physicians and determine whether a face-to-face appointment is necessary to further diagnose or treat the condition, according to Kaiser.
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It’s one of many efforts by Kaiser to capitalize on the growing use of telemedicine, having recently implemented the “medical selfie,” as well as online access to lab and x-ray results.
Dermatology is seemingly an area rife with potential for telemedicine. Earlier this year, Iagnosis, the parent company of DermatologistOnCall, announced that web-based visits will be a covered benefit for some 5.2 million members of Highmark Commercial Insurance, a Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated carrier based in Pittsburgh, across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware.
