Advantages of teledermatology for incarcerated patients: A scoping review

Summary: Abstract Body: To address the unique challenges and increasing costs of providing care to incarcerated patients, this scoping review aims to synthesize the documented advantages of utilizing teledermatology in prisons. Article databases were searched for studies on teledermatology for incarcerated populations, following PRISMA guidelines. 43 studies were screened, of which 10 met eligibility criteria. 2417 patient records were evaluated in these studies. Dermatology was the most frequently requested speciality in telemedicines at 50-54% (n=350). Medical transport costs ranged from $700-1000 per day from 1995-1997, an expenditure that has since increased substantially. In one study, telemedicine reduced visit costs to $70 (n=400). Additionally, 84-86.3% (n=387) of patients were successfully managed without requiring an in-person visit and incurring transport costs. 86.7% (n=352) of teledermatology patients had improved by their second visit, and 62.6% (n=254) required only one consultation. Diagnostic accuracy improved with teledermatology as referral/request forms from primary care providers matched post-teledermatology diagnosis in only 57.1% (n=200) of cases. Of the conditions treated, eczematous disorders and infections/infestations were the most frequent diagnoses at 9.3-39% (n=333) and 5.1-42.8% (n=265) respectively. While the current literature on teledermatology in prisons is limited, there appears to be demand and potential benefit for this form of care. Efficacy without the need for in-person intervention, improved diagnostic accuracy, and considerable cost reduction documented in these studies should be further investigated in future studies. Ben Gratz¹, Bahar Lakeh¹, Ria Sandeep¹, Alan Moshell² 1. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States. 2. Department of Dermatology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States. Minoritized Populations and Health Disparities Research