Teledermatology Expansion Highlights Urgent Need for Faster Skin Care

The Orihuela Health Department has recently expanded its teledermatology service, following assessments carried out by hospital specialists. Over the first six-and-a-half months of the year, almost 2,400 skin consultations were conducted. This expansion is particularly crucial, as dermatology departments throughout the region are facing increasing pressure. Torrevieja Hospital, in particular, stands to benefit greatly from this new service.

New handheld devices called dermatoscopes are being provided to every health centre within the Orihuela Health Department. These devices capture clear, magnified images of skin marks and lesions. Family doctors can then transmit these images, along with pertinent medical data, directly to dermatology specialists at Vega Baja University Hospital.

The dermatologist can subsequently remotely evaluate the patient, determining if treatment can be administered at the health centre or if an urgent hospital appointment is necessary.

Out of the 2,400 cases examined since the service commenced, 34.7% were deemed urgent. Doctors are giving special attention to patients whose skin lesions might indicate cancer. Suspicious melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and basal cell carcinomas receive particularly swift assessment, with urgent appointments being arranged within a month.

Dermatoscopes can detect warning signs that might not be easily identifiable by the naked eye, such as irregular shapes, edges, and changes in color or size. They also assist in recognizing common non-cancerous conditions like moles, seborrheic keratoses, and actinic keratoses.

By transmitting high-quality images electronically, many patients can receive advice or an initial diagnosis remotely, without the need to visit the hospital. This reduces unnecessary appointments and allows dermatologists to prioritize patients requiring urgent examination or surgery. The teledermatology system is now in operation across all seven primary healthcare areas within the Orihuela Health Department.

Maria Aranzazu Seguí, the primary care medical director, noted that teledermatology has positively impacted healthcare teams by providing family doctors with greater confidence in deciding which patients need priority face-to-face care. Dermatology specialists are also conducting training sessions for primary care doctors, covering real cases, correct use of dermatoscopes, and updated referral procedures.

The expansion of teledermatology aims to improve coordination between health centres and hospital specialists, accelerate the detection of potentially serious skin conditions, and alleviate pressure on waiting lists. Given the high demand for dermatology services, especially at Torrevieja Hospital, this scheme exemplifies how increased utilization of remote diagnosis can facilitate faster and more effective care for patients throughout southern Costa Blanca.