Featured Initiatives : Teledermatology
Teledermatology
Under the leadership of Dr. Anne E. Burdick, Professor of Dermatology and the Associate Dean for UM Telehealth and Clinical Outreach, the UM Telehealth team has been at the forefront of Teledermatology for over 15 years. As the Co-Chair of the Teledermatology Special Interest Group of the American Telemedicine Association, Dr. Burdick is actively involved in the development of the Practice Guidelines for Teledermatology. Furthermore, Dr. Burdick headed the American Academy of Dermatology’s Telemedicine Task Force, contributing significantly to the adoption of telemedicine technology as a means to facilitate access to dermatological care.
Teledermatology at UM Telehealth focuses on providing clinical care, facilitating distance education, and promoting advocacy
Figure 1.In preparation for a real-time teleconsultation, Dr. Burdick reviews information with the nurse telepresenter.
Clinical Care
In Florida, Teledermatology services are provided to the children enrolled in the Children’s Medical Services network. This network offers valuable access to UM’s world- renowned dermatologists—to children as far away as Panama City.
In collaboration with the John T. MacDonald Foundation and UM’s Department of Family Medicine, and under a grant provided by the Verizon Foundation, children in the North Miami School district also have access to dermatology care through telemedicine.
Enhancing employee health benefits to 20,000 crew members of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, UM Telehealth is the provider of teledermatology services. This initiative was implemented in August of 2010.
Indian Health Service, a Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives also benefit from the expertise of UM dermatologists, which provide consultations through telemedicine to members of 79 sites in 29 states.
Distance Education
UM Telehealth at the University of Miami is the site for the monthly Pan American Virtual Conferences in Dermatology. The conferences connect UM expert lecturers with academic and health care sites in Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. This intitiative received the 2007 award for Program for Innovative CME by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Advocacy
Dr. Burdick and Scott Simmons, Director of UM Telehealth participate in numerous organizations that are concerned with shaping public policies that facilitate access to those who most need care. As the Chair of the Medicare Urban Reimbursement Team, and of the Telemedicine and e-Health Journal Editorial Board, their efforts have yielded numerous publications that shape policy to this day.
Figure 2. Leaders in Telemedicine-In 2010, Scott Simmons and Dr. Anne Burdick were presented with the Telemedicine and e-Health Journal Paper of the Year Award.
Related Publications and News
Burdick AE, Sackheim K, Siegel D. Teledermatology in Dermatology Residency. In: Pak HS, Edison K, Whited J, editors. Teledermatology: A User’s Guide.
New York (NY): Cambridge University Press; 2008.
Position Statement on Telemedicine, American Academy of Dermatology Association.
American Telemedicine Association Special Interest group in Teledermatology.
UM TeleHealth Provides Remote Dermatology to Cruise Company.
For more information about teledermatology, please contact:
Sonia Batista, RN, MS, RD, LD/N
Clinical Telehealth Coordinator
305-243-1135
sbatista@med.miami.edu