Application of Telemedicine for Dermatological Emergency Patients

After admission to the emergency room each dermatological patient is routinely assessed to Manchester Triage System (MTS) by the nursing staff. Thereby data are collected for anamnesis (duration of symptoms, allergies, self-medication, medical history) followed by randomization in two equal study groups.

Patients of group A (control group) wait routinely until the dermatological investigator in charge arrives at the emergency room. Once the dermatological investigator is on site, he gives a diagnosis and proposes a therapy.

Time is measured from the patients admission to the emergency room up to the personnel diagnosis and therapy by the dermatological investigator in charge.

For Patients of group B (teledermatology) first of all study-related photographs of the skin lesions are taken with a tablet. After that the registration of the consult "teledermatology" is carried out by the emergency investigator in charge, who uploads the photographs as well as the data for anamnesis to the hospital information system "medico". The consult "teledermatology" can directly be processed by the dermatological investigator in charge who enters his diagnosis and his therapy proposal.

Time is measured from admission to the emergency room up to the telemedical diagnosis and therapy by the dermatological investigator in charge.

Subsequently an internal control is carried out as the same investigator comes personally to the emergency room to check its telemedical diagnosis and therapy proposal.

Finally both time measurements are compared with each other.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female aged ≥ 18 years
• Written informed consent prior to study participation
• Adults who are contractually capable and mentally able to understand and follow the instructions of the study personnel.
• Dermatological emergency patient

Exclusion criteria

• Male or female aged < 18 years
• Missing informed consent prior to study participation
• Patient has been committed to an institution by legal or regulatory order
• Persons in dependence from the sponsor or working with the sponsor
• Participation in another clinical trial within the previous 2 months