Teledermatology Utilization and Integration in Residency Training Over the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: During the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, adapted pre-existing local healthcare infrastructures to provide increased provider-to-provider teledermatology services as well as integrated teledermatology into the dermatology residency training program.

Objectives: (1) To assess the differences in utilization of provider-to-provider teledermatology services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) to assess dermatology resident and faculty experiences with the integration of teledermatology into dermatology residency training at the University of Ottawa.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis comparing provider-to-provider teledermatology consults submitted to dermatologists from April 2019 to October 2019 pre-pandemic with the same period during the pandemic in 2020. Two different questionnaires were also disseminated to the dermatology residents and faculty at our institution inquiring about their perspectives on teledermatology, education, and practice.

Results: The number of dermatologists completing consults, the number of providers submitting a case to Dermatology, and the number of consults initiated all increased during the pandemic period. Ninety-one percent of residents agreed that eConsults and teledermatology enhanced their residency education, enabled continuation of training during the pandemic, and that eConsult-based training should be incorporated into the curriculum. Ninety-six percent of staff incorporated a virtual dermatology practice model, and one-third used teledermatology with residents during the pandemic. Most staff felt there was value in providing virtual visits in some capacity during the pandemic.

Conclusions: Our study confirms that the use of teledermatology services continues to increase accessibility during the pandemic. Teledermatology enhances the education and training of residents and will be incorporated into dermatology residency programs.

Keywords: COVID-19; dermatology residency; education; electronic consultations; teledermatology; telemedicine.

Figure 1

Total number of teledermatology consults submitted across all three Ontario services (Ontario eConsult Service, OTN-Teledermatology, Champlain eConsult BASE). (a) chronological order and (b) Differentiated between April-October 2019 compared to 2020.

Figure 2

Total number of active dermatologists who provided 3 or more eConsults in 6 months in 2019 compared to 2020 across all three Ontario services (Ontario eConsult Service, OTN-Teledermatology, Champlain eConsult BASE).

Figure 3

Number of PCPs who submitted a case to Dermatology in 2019 compared to 2020 across all three Ontario services (Ontario eConsult Service, OTN-Teledermatology, Champlain eConsult BASE).