Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9554
ISSN: 2155-9554
Nusrat Gaffoor Bholah
Trinity College, Dublin
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JCEDR
AccuRx is a virtual consultation platform, used in over 7000 General Practices in the UK1. Due to a reduced need for face-to-face reviews, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our practice has adopted accuRx for Dermatological assessments. We report its impact on the volume of subsequent face-to-face appointments and its ability reach to a defi nitive diagnosis. Searches were conducted on EMIS for patients aged 4 to 40 years, with clinical codes ‘eczema’/‘psoriasis’/‘rash’/‘skin’ between 01/11/19 to 31/01/20 for the Pre-COVID-19 group and between 01/11/20 to 31/01/21 for the COVID-19 group. 25 patients were randomly selected from each group. All pre-COVID-19 reviews were face-to-face. Those not using accuRx for their consultation were excluded from the COVID-19 group. 16%(4/25) of patients required a further face-to-face appointment within 3 months of initial presentation, for the same dermatological problem, in the pre-COVID-19 group, compared to 4%(1/25) in the COVID-19 group. A defi nitive diagnosis was reached at fi rst assessment in 96%(24/25) of patients in the pre-COVID-19 group compared to 84%(21/25) in the COVID-19 group. AccuRx may reduce the number of face-to-face appointments which has clear advantages during a pandemic. However, this reduction may also be attributable to reduced availability of face-to-face appointments in Primary care and reluctance of vulnerable patients seeking healthcare interactions during this time. Moreover, consultations using this platform are less likely to result in a defi nitive Dermatological diagnosis, compared to face-toface reviews. This may be related to the quality of images reviewed on the platform.
Dr. Nusrat Gaffoor Bholah has completed her Undergraduate Medicine degree in Trinity College Dublin in 2019. She has worked as a foundation trainee doctor in the East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust in the United Kingdom. She has a keen interest in the fi eld of Dermatology. She has undertaken placements and multiple projects in this area.