Teledermatology Cost-Effective, Scalable as a Solution for Rural Dermatologic Care Disparities

HCP Live August 28, 2025
Tim Smith, Ryan Livingston

Key Takeaways

• Teledermatology can improve dermatologic care in rural areas by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for in-person referrals.
• Three teledermatology models—store-and-forward, synchronous, and hybrid—are effective in managing skin conditions remotely.
• Barriers include licensing restrictions and poor broadband, but interventions like patient education and AI tools can improve feasibility.
• Further research is needed to refine teledermatology approaches and ensure equitable access to dermatologic expertise for all.

These findings on teledermatology highlight its effectiveness as a potential solution for disparities in dermatology care within rural communities.

Teledermatology is both a cost-effective and scalable approach to improving dermatologic disparities within rural communities, recent findings suggest, and increased education for providers and patients may be needed.¹

Victoria Griffith, MD,...

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