Post by Alexander Zink

Teledermatology should never leave patients alone with a diagnosis. In our recently published project SmartRegioDerm, we report the first analysis of an ongoing teledermatological care model that is fully embedded into regional healthcare structures. The core idea is simple: on-site whole-body skin imaging + remote specialist evaluation + structured integration into local care pathways. This means: • urgent cases are identified early • patients are actively guided into regional dermatology or primary care • teledermatology becomes an additional player, not a parallel system Importantly, patients do not receive an isolated digital assessment. They are prioritized, referred, and connected within existing regional networks. While this project was implemented in Bavaria, the underlying principle is highly transferable to other regions and healthcare systems facing access and capacity challenges. The project is ongoing, and this first publication reflects an initial evaluation of feasibility and real-world integration — a necessary foundation before scaling digital care models. This work was led with great commitment by Enya Müller as first author, together with a dedicated interdisciplinary team, committed regional partners, and the support of the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Gesundheit, Pflege und Prävention under the leadership of Judith Gerlach. Their combined efforts make it possible to test responsible, patient-centered digital innovation in real-world care. This is the kind of digital dermatology we believe in: integrated, accountable, and close to real-world care. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/dNKGSDh2