Predictions About the Future of Dermatologic Telehealth

Margareth Pierre-Louis, MD, a dermatologist at Twin Cities Dermatology in Minneapolis, has made it her mission to provide skin care for patients, regardless of their race, skin tone, and background. Oftentimes, the ability for patients to use digital tools can be frustrating to providers - as it can lead to self-diagnosis and unnecessary fear (think WebMD). However, Dr Pierre-Louis is embracing the shift to digital tools, using skin tracking apps and secure platforms to communicate and monitor patients’ skin lesions remotely. 

In this video, Dr Margareth Pierre-Louis discusses her predictions about the future of dermatologic telehealth.

TRANSCRIPT-

Dr Margareth Pierre-Louis:  Again, I'm excited about this whole topic. It was great to see the questions and be able to say, "Oh, I have an answer for that." Of course, I have an answer for that. My last point, the world is changing. The world is changing and I think it's for the better. We can leverage technology, and basically, even out the playing field a little bit.

We can actually start to address health inequities. We can get access to care when there was none, and it's all because we can use technology to do so. Yes, there's limitations, but it is a better world for all. There are more than...What? The stat was more than 1.5 billion smartphones in the hands of adults throughout the whole world.

Imagine if you could use that device to actually empower people to not only take care of themselves but also to deliver care. I think it's amazing.

We, as the dermatologists, need to make sure we protect our specialty. We have to be part of this digital revolution because, again, the digital patient will leave us behind.

They will use products like Curology and never come to clinic, even if they need us because they are finding a way that is convenient, that's going to meet their needs, and it's going to be easy because the world of the brick and mortar clinic is no longer the way it is. Yes, if we need to do a procedure, we need to get someone in the door.

For most people, if their needs could be met by a virtual visit or through something that's more convenient, it actually saves us time, it can help us be more profitable, but it can also again deliver better care.

I want to encourage my colleagues out there to get on the bandwagon because you're going to be left behind if we do not embrace the digital patient and the digital healthcare revolution that's happening.