UBC Dermatology Rural and Remote Service
UBC Dermatology is operating a service for physicians and nurse practitioners in rural and remote settings (including First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day) by phone, text, photo, teleconference, and a combination of these.
The dermatology team’s main goal is to provide timely consultation as well as follow-up as needed. The team also aims to develop good working relationships with referring providers and provide practical education with the intent of transferring skills into the community.
How it works
The first contact is usually with a senior dermatology resident who can orient new users. Residents will use submitted information to reach a working diagnosis and plan, which is reviewed with dermatology staff and the referring practitioner. Follow-up plans are made, and a written note is faxed.
Download the Work Flow and Evaluation Model.
How to access the service
The service is available to rural healthcare providers Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 9 am to 5 pm.
Phone: 1-778-771-DERM (3376)
Once contact has been established, texts and photos can be sent through WelTel (we set you up) at 1-236-999-1658 or by Zoom at rrderm@telus.net (Rural Derm).
Back up contacts:
- Office Phone (MOA Joanne): 604-266-5353
- Office Fax: 604-879-7475
- Dr. Neil Kitson Cell: 236-999-1658
Note: Immediate real-time support is not always possible, but a conversation with the referring doctor is often essential. Urgent calls after hours are not yet available.
What we will ask you for
- Patient demographics that can be clearly read (written, an in-focus photo of a patient label, or the demographics screen on your EMR)
- Help with evaluation, which means:
- for you, choosing one number to tell us how severe you think the rash is using the Physician Global Assessment for Dermatology
- for the patient, consent for us to contact them to arrange completion of a Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire
Questions and feedback
UBC Dermatology Rural and Remote Service developed as a project in 2018 on a small scale and has been evolving with the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a work in progress, and we appreciate your involvement as users and collaborators. The goal is to establish a provincial telemedicine service for rural and remote communities.
We know that successful services and relationships exist for dermatology telemedicine. Our experimental service is in no way intended to supplant these but to complement them in rural and remote areas where we perceive unmet needs remain. This hypothesis perception remains to be tested.
The team appreciates your patience during this time and welcomes your feedback on the process. If you have any questions/feedback or for more information, call 1-778-771-DERM (3376) or email rrderm@telus.net.
Meet the team
The clinical service is supervised by Dr. Neil Kitson from UBC Dermatology, and the Resident Lead is Dr. Nathan Teegee.
We are actively seeking the participation of additional dermatologists and have access to more specialized consultants in pediatrics, surgery, gynecology, and psychiatry.
Neil Kitson
Neil Kitson graduated in medicine from McMaster University, completed an internship in Toronto, six months of anesthesia in England, and a year of pediatrics in Australia. His experience transmuted into research, which subsequently turned into a change of direction towards dermatology. After another two years of general medicine in the UK, Neil trained in dermatology at UBC. He is an associate professor with the UBC Department of Dermatology and Skin Science and a dermatologist with Vancouver General Hospital. For 20 years, Neil has been interested in providing dermatology services to populations with difficult access, using telemedicine in part. His evolving career goals include using First Nations technology to create topical applications for the skin.
Nathan Teegee
Nathan Teegee is a member of the Takla Lake First Nation and was raised in Fort St. James. He earned his undergraduate degree at University of Toronto. He is an alumnus of the Northern Medical Program at UBC and is currently a senior resident within the UBC Dermatology postgraduate residency program. As resident lead of the UBC rural and remote dermatology service, Nathan is working closely with Dr. Neil Kitson to develop a dermatology care model that improves access to care. He is excited to be a part of this great work and looks forward to helping where he can. Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife Linda and their three-year-old daughter, Madeline.
Acknowledgements
UBC Dermatology Rural and Remote Service was formally initiated and subsequently supported by Dr. Jan Dutz, head of the UBC Department of Dermatology and Skin Science.
The effectiveness of this service will be determined in collaboration with colleagues at the UBC School of Public Health. Measurements will include waiting times and interviews with doctors and patients, for which consent will be sought.
