ArticleBMC health services research2018
A cost savings analysis of asynchronous teledermatology compared to face-to-face dermatology in Catalonia.
Article in BMC health services research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Teledermatology versus Face-to-Face Dermatology: An Analysis of Cost-Effectiveness from Eight Studies from Europe and the United States.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Skin & Digital: The 2024 Startups.JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health · 2025Article
- Challenges in Teledermoscopy Diagnostic Outcome Studies: Scoping Review of Heterogeneous Study Characteristics.JMIR dermatology · 2024Article
- Evolving teledermatology policy and reimbursement landscape in the United States.JAAD international · 2023Article
- Virtual Access to Subspecialty Care.Primary care · 2022Review
- Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Development, Validity, and Reliability of the Perceived Telemedicine Importance, Disadvantages, and Barriers (PTIDB) Questionnaire for Egyptian Healthcare Professionals.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatological Conditions: A Novel, Comprehensive Review.Dermatopathology (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Teledermatology in Rural, Underserved, and Isolated Environments: A Review.Current dermatology reports · 2022Review
- Cost Minimization Analysis of a Teledermatology Triage System in a Managed Care Setting.JAMA dermatology · 2021Article
- Work Group Report: COVID-19: Unmasking Telemedicine.The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice · 2020Review
- [Successful regional teledermatological and teledermatoscopic triage networking between general practitioners and dermatologists].Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete · 2020Article
- Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of teledermatology: Where are we now, and what are the barriers to adoption?Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2020Article
- Primary Care Professionals' Acceptance of Medical Record-Based, Store and Forward Provider-to-Provider Telemedicine in Catalonia: Results of a Web-Based Survey.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Environmental and Patient Impact of Applying a Point-of-Care Ultrasound Model in Primary Care: Rural vs. Urban Centres.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Validation of a Short Questionnaire to Assess Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions of Asynchronous Telemedicine Services: The Catalan Version of the Health Optimum Telemedicine Acceptance Questionnaire.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- A Cost-Minimization Analysis of a Medical Record-based, Store and Forward and Provider-to-provider Telemedicine Compared to Usual Care in Catalonia: More Agile and Efficient, Especially for Users.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Impact of a Telemedicine Program on the Reduction in the Emission of Atmospheric Pollutants and Journeys by Road.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA teledermatology pilot scheme was first conducted in the town of Manresa (Barcelona) in the summer of 2010. The clinical success of the scheme prompted its expansion to the whole county of Bages in 2011 and to the adjacent county of Berguedà in 2012. In the teledermatology service, primary care physicians take a photograph of the lesion and attach it to the electronic medical records of the patient together with a brief clinical account. In the referral hospital, the consultant dermatologists access the electronic medical records, review the images and suggest a treatment or action plan. Next, the primary care physicians review these recommendations and call the patient to report the results. This whole process is usually completed in less than 5 working days.
methodsA cost saving analysis comparing teledermatology with dermatology face-to-face visits was performed in the county of Bages measuring the cost difference attributable to visits saved.
resultsThe estimated added costs of the teledermatology service during 2016 amounted to 61,870 €. For the same period, the estimated costs of traditional outpatient dermatology services were of 113,034 €. This represents savings of 51,164 € per year. After subtraction of societal costs, the savings equal 10,350 € per year.
conclusionsUsing a teledermatology service instead of face-to-face dermatology consultations could save 51,164 € per year (11.4 € per patient visited) in the county of Bages. Societal savings are the most significant.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.