BACKGROUND: Dermatology is primarily considered to be an outpatient-centered specialty. However, several inpatient admissions to other specialties require dermatologic consultation for optimum management.
AIMS: To analyze the causes of inpatient dermatology referrals, departments sending referrals, and impact of dermatology consultation on patient management.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study by analyzing the records of 486 patient referrals over a 4-year period. The demographic details, specialties requesting consultation, cause of referral, and dermatological advice have been recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS: Dermatology consultation changed the dermatologic diagnosis and treatment of almost two-thirds of patients. General medicine requested the maximum number of referrals, "skin rash" being the most common cause for referral. Accurate diagnosis on referrals was provided by only 30.2% of nondermatologists. Common dermatological disorders were often misdiagnosed by these physicians, and dermatology referrals had significant impact on the diagnosis and subsequent management of these patients.
CONCLUSION: While dermatologic referral leads to improved patient care, there is a need for better training of nondermatologists enabling them to recognize and treat common dermatoses.
BT - Indian journal of dermatology C1 -http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28216722?dopt=Abstract
DO - 10.4103/0019-5154.198044 IS - 1 J2 - Indian J Dermatol LA - eng N2 -BACKGROUND: Dermatology is primarily considered to be an outpatient-centered specialty. However, several inpatient admissions to other specialties require dermatologic consultation for optimum management.
AIMS: To analyze the causes of inpatient dermatology referrals, departments sending referrals, and impact of dermatology consultation on patient management.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study by analyzing the records of 486 patient referrals over a 4-year period. The demographic details, specialties requesting consultation, cause of referral, and dermatological advice have been recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS: Dermatology consultation changed the dermatologic diagnosis and treatment of almost two-thirds of patients. General medicine requested the maximum number of referrals, "skin rash" being the most common cause for referral. Accurate diagnosis on referrals was provided by only 30.2% of nondermatologists. Common dermatological disorders were often misdiagnosed by these physicians, and dermatology referrals had significant impact on the diagnosis and subsequent management of these patients.
CONCLUSION: While dermatologic referral leads to improved patient care, there is a need for better training of nondermatologists enabling them to recognize and treat common dermatoses.
PY - 2017 SP - 29 EP - 32 T2 - Indian journal of dermatology TI - Interdepartmental Dermatology: Characteristics and Impact of Dermatology Inpatient Referrals at a Teaching Hospital in Eastern India. UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5286750/ VL - 62 SN - 1998-3611 ER -