Study: E-visits produce similar outcomes to office appointments for acne care

We've been fans of the concept of the e-visit for a long time. And though some of the concerns from the medical establishment are warranted--it's tough to know the nuances of a case without a pre-existing relationship with a patient, physicians aren't often reimbursed for their time, there isn't enough scientific evidence to show e-visits are effective--much of the negativity likely was due to simple reluctance to change.

Slowly, the barriers are falling. For one thing, physicians are under tremendous time pressures, a situation that may only get worse with 32 million additional people soon to have health insurance without meaningful changes to the fee-for-service paradigm. Plus, more and more people are showing a willingness to pay for electronic access to physicians, even if many insurance companies aren't. And, significantly, the scientific evidence is growing.

In a recently published study in the Archives of Dermatology, researchers at the Center for Connected Health in Boston found that dermatologists could achieve similar outcomes for acne patients who received online care as those who came into the office. Significantly, for patients who came into the office, the physicians were more likely to prefer managing them online to wishing online patients would make an in-person appointment.

"These findings suggest that dermatologists obtain sufficient information from digital images and survey responses to make appropriate management decisions in the treatment of acne," the Center for Connected Health researchers write. "In addition, this model of care delivery was popular with both physicians and patients, likely owing to the convenience and/or time savings associated with e-visits."

For more information:
- read this MedPageToday story
- see this Archives of Dermatology abstract

Related Articles:
Anthem launches e-visit pilot program in Maine
Trend: Health plans expanding online physician connection options

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