How is it done?
A video consultation allows you to speak to your dermatologist about the diagnosis and management of your condition. However, fundamental to a dermatological diagnosis is the ability to see the condition clearly, and in our experience, still photos are often better than video for that. So we like to use a two step process as follows:
- We ask you to complete an online consent form, a history sheet and send us some good still photos. Please make sure the photos are well-lit, well-focused and show clearly which parts of the body are affected, as well as close-ups of the main areas. If you are taking photos with your phone please do not use the "Selfie" camera as it does not give good enough resolution. If necessary, get someone to take the photos for you. Send us the full size files. In practice, a file size of about 1MB per photo gives us a clear image. Whether you are photographing a rash or a single lesion, take images that show where it is and take close-ups too.
- After we have reviewed the information and the photos we will contact you to arrange a time for a video call, or just a phone call if appropriate. Not everyone will have internet access that is good enough for a video call. Sometimes it will be obvious to us that a video consultation is just not going to be suitable and we will advise you to make a physical appointment instead.
For video consultations we use
doxy.me, a secure, encrypted service designed for this purpose. You can access it on your phone or computer. In practice, a computer camera gives the better pictures but a phone is much easier to move around to show your dermatologist different parts of the body. Make sure you are somewhere quiet, well-lit and private. You may want to have a supporter in the room with you.
We would send you a link by email or text just before the appointment time and you simply log in by typing the link into your URL bar, which puts you in the virtual “waiting room”. You then wait for the dermatologist to call you into the “clinic room”.
No software has to be downloaded.
During the video or phone consultation we will ask any further questions that are necessary and, of course, you can do so too. We will discuss the diagnosis, the management and the need for any further tests or follow up. Prescriptions can be emailed to your pharmacy.
If a diagnosis and management plan are not possible because of the limitations of the teledermatology process then we would refund you and ask you to book a face to face appointment when available.
However, sometimes even in a normal clinic, a diagnosis is not possible without further tests, such as a skin biopsy. If a diagnosis would not be possible without further tests, even in a face to face clinic, rather than due to the limitations of teledermatology, no refund would be offered.
Please note, while many conditions are suitable for assessment by this process we do not think it suitable for general skin/mole checks. We are, however, happy to assess individual lesions where there is concern about skin cancer.
How do I go ahead?
If you follow this link you will start the process. Please note, if you are insured we will need your insurance details. All the major insurers are happy to pay for video and phone consultations.
If you are not insured we ask you to pre-pay for your consultation into KM Surgical’ s bank account 02 0800 0506042 00. Please use your first and last name as a reference. If our clinic is open you can do a credit card payment over the phone with our receptionist, please phone
03 379 9467 to arrange. A receipt can be provided on request.
Once payment, the online forms and photos have been received you will get an email from one of our reception team offering you a time and date with one of our Dermatologists. That email will contain the link for you to enter just prior to the appointment time. Please confirm the suitability of the appointment time.
Please read the Terms and Conditions for our Teledermatology service.
To start the process, please complete the form below: