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Overcoming Barriers to Implementation of Teledermatology in Rural America

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Dermatology in Rural Settings

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development Goals Series ((SDGS))

Abstract

Teledermatology, for all its promise, played only a minor role in the care of patients in the United States until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Deregulation coupled with closure of clinical practices, except for the most urgent and emergent conditions, led to a tremendous surge in clinical care from a distance. Technical issues preventing efficient use of teledermatology were highlighted during this period. As the pandemic plays out, we are at a crossroads. Some form of regulation of telehealth will return and technical problems persist. Still, dermatologists have seen the benefits derived from teledermatology reaching patients who are otherwise unable to be seen in the office. It is the purpose of this chapter to review the barriers to routine use of telehealth and identify solutions to improve access to care in rural areas.

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals

—Henry Ford

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ross Pearlman, MD, for providing Figures 15.4–15.6.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Caroline Doo & Amanda S. Brown

  2. Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Curtis Petruzzelli

  3. Children’s of Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Karen Dowling

  4. Department of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Robert T. Brodell

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  1. Caroline Doo
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  3. Karen Dowling
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  4. Amanda S. Brown
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  5. Robert T. Brodell
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Robert T. Brodell

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Adam C. Byrd

  3. Carris Health-CentraCare, University of Minnesota, Willmar, MN, USA

    Cindy Firkins Smith

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Vinayak K. Nahar

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Doo, C., Petruzzelli, C., Dowling, K., Brown, A.S., Brodell, R.T. (2021). Overcoming Barriers to Implementation of Teledermatology in Rural America. In: Brodell, R.T., Byrd, A.C., Firkins Smith, C., Nahar, V.K. (eds) Dermatology in Rural Settings. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75984-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75984-1_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-75983-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-75984-1

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