Strategies to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview-based study from private practice dermatologists

Abstract

Background

Many dermatologists have experienced significant changes to their practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

It is vital to recognize how the pandemic has affected dermatology practices and identify methods to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety.

Methods

Private practice dermatologists in metropolitan areas were interviewed regarding various issues, including patient volume, types of visits or procedures being performed, screening for COVID-19, and operational modifications.

Results

On average, there was a 65.2% decrease in patient volume during the initial surge of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was improved to a 15.5% decrease in July 2020. Despite this reduction in patient volume, the proportion of acute dermatologic issues, biopsies performed, and skin cancer concerns were all increased compared to pre-COVID. All of the dermatologists reported notable changes in regards to scheduling, staff, operations, and workplaces.

Limitations

Interview participants were limited to metropolitan dermatologists mainly within the California region.

Conclusion

Improving patient communication, implementing protocols to facilitate social distancing, and utilizing teledermatology were reported to be essential to optimizing efficiency and safety. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is important that dermatologists identify specific ways to practice efficiently and effectively, while mitigating the spread of the virus.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• dermatology practices
• patient volume
• patient safety
• teledermatology
• efficiency

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Dr. Alan Rosenbach, Dr. Carla Nip-Sakamoto, Dr. Carolyn Kassabian, Dr. Dana Kang, Dr. Leon Kircik, Dr. Paul Yamauchi, and Dr. Timothy Jochen for their insight and advice for this paper.

Disclosure statement

AWA has served as an investigator and/or scientific advisor to Abbvie, BMS, Dermavant, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Modernizing Medicine, Novartis, Ortho Dermatologics, Regeneron, Sanofi, Sun Pharma, UCB. KMY, RMY, SG, and JM have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Authors’ contributions by CRediT taxonomy

Kaitlyn M. Yim, MD: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, visualization. Rebecca M. Yim, BA: conceptualization, methodology, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. Sara Gaspard, MD: investigation, writing – review and editing. Jamie MacDougall, MD: investigation, writing – review and editing. April W. Armstrong, MD: conceptualization, methodology, resources, writing – review and editing, visualization, supervision.