How Technology is Helping the Field of Dermatology
“When I found Valleywise Health, I agreed with the mission of improving access to quality care for the underserved across the Valley.”
Dermatologists are often associated with the aesthetics of the skin. Have a teen with bad acne? See a dermatologist. Turn 50 and think it’s time for Botox? See a dermatologist. Worried about a mole? See a dermatologist.
But at Valleywise Health, the role of a dermatologist can mean the difference between life and death for patients with severe skin disease, late-stage skin cancer, and other serious conditions.
“I did not know I was interested in dermatology until I began my rotations in med school,” said Dr. Mansi Sarihan, Chief of Dermatology at Valleywise Health. “The skin is the body’s largest organ and the first thing you see on a person. It’s the window to all kinds of diseases and to a person’s overall health.”
Dr. Sarihan searched across the nation for her perfect dermatology job. The more she looked, the more she learned what was truly important to her – working with the underserved.
“Working with this community is more challenging, for sure, but there is also more opportunity to serve the people who need us the most,” she said. “When I found Valleywise Health, I agreed with the mission of improving access to quality care for the underserved across the Valley.”
According to Dr. Sarihan, the 2020 COVID pandemic pushed many healthcare organizations to search for modern technology and tools to keep patients safe from the virus while still offering extraordinary care. And here at Valleywise we started working hard to develop and modernize how healthcare was delivered.
In the field of dermatology, visual examinations are essential to diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to modern technology, doctors can diagnose patient issues faster and more efficiently than ever before. Examples include telehealth video conference calls, advanced electronic medical records systems utilizing store and forward technology, and the dermatoscope, a polarized lens and magnifier used to take photos of skin lesions.
“Currently, we use Epic EMR and clinical and dermoscopic photography in our practice,” said Dr. Sarihan. “Instead of patients waiting months to be seen in a dermatologist’s office or clinic, the primary care physician takes a photo using the Epic EMR program and sends it to us. The PCP provides as much background information as possible. Then we, as dermatologists, review the photos and notes and provide recommendations on average within two to three days.”
“This is a much faster turnaround than even a few years ago when a first visit and evaluation by dermatology could take two to three months. It is a significant improvement in access to care, especially in underserved populations, and with earlier intervention, we can have more successful outcomes,” Dr. Sarihan added.
At Valleywise Health, patients have more extreme skin diseases than are typically seen in a dermatologist’s office. The issues are less cosmetic or aesthetic and more life-threatening or quality-of-life hindering and may include itching, pain, bleeding, sores, or devastating disease.
Some of the most common dermatology issues seen at Valleywise Health are conditions that mimic burns, like Steven-Johnson Syndrome, a severe reaction to medication. Eczematous dermatitis is often seen in both adult and pediatric patients. Viral infections like Monkey Pox or other communicable diseases and Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease seen most commonly in refugees, are often treated, as well as more advanced stages of skin cancer.
“If you are suffering, you want the fastest care and treatment possible. Today’s technology allows for faster diagnosis and healing for patients, which is our ultimate goal as physicians.”
To support the work of Valleywise Health Foundation.
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