BT14 (P026) Teledermatology from the other side: a clinical photographers’ perspective

Abstract Teledermatology has transformed the way we deliver our skin cancer service, with medical photographers playing a vital role in our trust. We sought to further streamline our existing teledermatology service and explore challenges faced by the photography team. Our teledermatology model involves patients directly attending the hospital for a professional photography appointment before consultant triage of the lesion(s). After observing teledermatology photography lists with detailed photographer feedback, 1 week of teledermatology clinics across all three sites of the trust were analysed. Referral type, discrepancies between the general practitioner (GP) referral and photos taken, and chaperone availability were explored, in addition to the referral pathway and patient information supplied. In total 122 teledermatology patients were included. Photographers highlighted difficulties with patients requesting lesions not specified on the GP referral to be photographed, and not having sufficient information prior to their teledermatology appointment, making it often difficult to manage expectations. Furthermore, due to minimal staffing, the availability of chaperones was often limited. In 19% of cases there was a discrepancy between the GP referred lesion and photograph taken, which was due to additional lesions being photographed (35%), patients having multiple moles (22%), and unlikely suitability for teledermatology and no GP referral being present (17%). Improvements have been implemented at different levels along the teledermatology pathway to further streamline the service and reduce some of the pressures faced by our clinical photographer colleagues. Modifications to the GP suspected skin cancer pathway referral make it clearer which patients are suitable for teledermatology, and request a mandatory lesion and locator photograph. The triage process has been altered to improve robustness, with an additional triage step to minimize patients inappropriate for teledermatology being booked in, such as those with more than three lesions, genital lesions and patients on stretchers. Patient information has been clearly displayed in the medical photography department, highlighting that only the referred lesion can be photographed, and a paper copy of the teledermatology patient information leaflet is provided to highlight the next steps to the patient. This minimizes questions directed at the photographers and aids management of patient expectations. Finally, a protocol for medical photographers has been implemented to standardize teledermatology images taken, with changes to include polarized and nonpolarized dermoscopy. With these changes we have minimized the challenges faced by our clinical photography colleagues, whose perspective and experience of a successful teledermatology service is critical, and we believe this should be explored in order to make meaningful improvements.