Recently, Ringpfeil Advanced Dermatology, of Philadelphia and the Mainline PA, announced a new online dermatology consultation service. The new service enables patients to receive diagnoses and treatment plans for their dermatological condition by a board certified dermatologist without a physical visit at the dermatologist office. The patients can upload pictures of their condition, follow a simple online wizard to describe their condition, and receive a diagnosis, treatment plan, prescription, and lab order by the end of the following business day.
Many skin conditions can be diagnosed accurately without requiring an office visit. Diagnosis of conditions through photos and clinical history are as adequate as a diagnosis during an in-person visit. Teledermatology has been successfully practiced in various academic settings, as well as in the military for many years.
“While an in-office encounter enables better patient-Doctor interaction, online consultation is an excellent alternative for patients who cannot meet their dermatologist in a timely manner. Many of our patients cannot take off from school or work in order to treat their acute conditions. Treatments for most conditions, including acne, rashes, rosacea, melasma … and others can be delivered effectively without actually seeing the patient face to face,” states Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil.
