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Ang Li Li, Senior Clinic Executive
Caption: The attending NSC dermatologist assessing a photo of a patient provided by the polyclinic via the new e-consultation service, Tele-DERM.
In January 2016, the National Skin Centre (NSC) embarked on its pilot project with the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) to provide Tele-DERM service to polyclinic doctors by introducing a two way e-consultation service. Hougang Polyclinic which has a consistently high number of referrals to NSC, was selected for the pilot run.
The aim of this project is to right site the cases from polyclinics so that the waiting time for new appointments can be better managed. The slots saved can then be offered to those who need the appointment more genuinely.
In embarking on the Tele-DERM project, NSC and NHGP are looking to reduce the number of unnecessary referrals to the Centre by allocating a dermatologist for the referring physician to seek opinion from when the patient presents himself at the polyclinic. It also aims to provide appropriate and timely appointments to patients whose conditions warrant urgent medical attention. With this e-consultation service, the doctors at polyclinic have direct access to the dermatologist on call for his or her opinion and discuss treatment options during clinic’s operating hours. For more accurate assessments, photos of the patient’s condition will be taken and shared with the consulting dermatologist. Both the attending physician and consulting dermatologist can then decide on appropriate treatments and the follow up recommendation for patient. If the doctors conclude that no referral is required to the Centre, the patient is saved an additional trip, as well as consultation fees.
Tele-DERM benefits both institutions with its improved management of both the patients’ waiting time and their skin conditions – as a portion of the patients’ concerns can now be addressed more immediately within the same visit.