DermUtopia is a hassle-free and user-friendly online application that allows Virginia patients to address skin problems easily on their own schedule. With increased wait time for in-office visits, higher gas prices, and reduced distribution of specialists throughout Virginia, the founders of DermUtopia, Dr. Brenda Dintiman and Christine Shanahan, felt strongly that an innovative telehealth program was essential to improving the overall situation for patients in Virginia. Just by downloading the ClickMedix phone application, and following a few simple steps, a patient can have access to a qualified and experienced dermatologist.
Teledermatology has been shown to be a successful way to bring dermatological care to patients in an efficient and effective manner. Many skin conditions benefit from early treatment and the ability for a doctor to see the condition when the symptoms are active and acute. DermUtopia connects patients to a DermUtopia dermatologist via a HIPAA-compliant, secure phone application. The ClickMedix phone application enables patients to submit medical history and photographs of the concerning area of skin as a virtual consultation. These electronic consultations can be used for all types of skin problems. After submitting the consultation, a DermUtopia dermatologist reviews and examines the patient history and images thoroughly and within 24 to 72 hours responds with a diagnosis and treatment plan. The outcome of each consultation can result in a variety of different paths for the patient. When a prescription is recommended, the DermUtopia dermatologists can electronically prescribe medications for pick-up at the most convenient pharmacy for the patient. If further examination is required, a live-interactive consultation or an in-person office visit at a local dermatologist may be recommended.
This mother-daughter team has identified that limited access to care for patients is a significant issue that must be overcome in order to improve the state of the medical community. With this in mind, they have explored many options that could minimize this problem in Virginia, and their research has lead directly to the matchless potential of teledermatology. Dr. Dintiman practices telemedicine for the American Association of Dermatology (AAD) and, in 2010 she was given the Presidential Award for Volunteerism in Telemedicine. As members of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and other telehealth groups, Dr. Brenda Dintiman and Christine Shanahan became the driving forces in the establishment of the currently Virginia-based teledermatology company called DermUtopia. Together, their motivation to increase access to dermatological care for Virginia residents and confidence in the modern technology that makes this possible reflect the central mission of DermUtopia, leading their medical community towards a better future.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Christine Shanahan at (571) 306-0662 or email at dermutopia(at)gmail(dot)com.
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