Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Peracca, SB; Jackson, GL; Lamkin, RP; Mohr, DC; Zhao, M; Lachica, O; Prentice, JC; Grenga, AM; Gifford, A; Chapman, JG; Weinstock, MA; Oh, DH
Published in: Telemed J E Health
February 2021

Introduction: Few systematic evaluations of implementing teledermatology programs in large health care systems exist. We conducted a longitudinal evaluation of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiative to expand asynchronous consultative teledermatology services for rural veterans. Methods: The reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance framework guided the evaluation, which included analysis of quantitative VA administrative data as well as an online survey completed by participating facilities. The first 2 years of the program were compared with the year before the start of funding. Results: Sixteen hub facilities expanded teledermatology's reach over the 2-year period, increasing the number of referral spoke sites, unique patients served, and teledermatology encounters. Effectiveness was reflected as teledermatology constituted an increasing fraction of dermatology activity and served more remotely located patients. Adoption through defined stages of implementation progressed as facilities engaged in a variety of strategies to enhance teledermatology implementation, and facilitators and barriers were identified. Program maintenance was assessed by Program Sustainability Index scores, which reflected the importance of executive support, and ongoing concerns about staffing and longitudinal funding. Discussion: Enabling hubs to create solutions that best fit their needs and culture likely increased reach and effectiveness. Important facilitators included organizational leadership and encouraging communication between stakeholders before and during the intervention. Conclusions: A systematic analysis of teledermatology implementation to serve rural sites in VA documented a high degree of implementation and sustainability as well as areas for improvement.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Telemed J E Health

DOI

EISSN

1556-3669

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

218 / 226

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Rural Population
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Medical Informatics
  • Humans
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4203 Health services and systems
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Peracca, S. B., Jackson, G. L., Lamkin, R. P., Mohr, D. C., Zhao, M., Lachica, O., … Oh, D. H. (2021). Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework. Telemed J E Health, 27(2), 218–226. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0013
Peracca, Sara B., George L. Jackson, Rebecca P. Lamkin, David C. Mohr, Molly Zhao, Olevie Lachica, Julia C. Prentice, et al. “Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework.Telemed J E Health 27, no. 2 (February 2021): 218–26. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0013.
Peracca SB, Jackson GL, Lamkin RP, Mohr DC, Zhao M, Lachica O, et al. Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework. Telemed J E Health. 2021 Feb;27(2):218–26.
Peracca, Sara B., et al. “Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework.Telemed J E Health, vol. 27, no. 2, Feb. 2021, pp. 218–26. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/tmj.2020.0013.
Peracca SB, Jackson GL, Lamkin RP, Mohr DC, Zhao M, Lachica O, Prentice JC, Grenga AM, Gifford A, Chapman JG, Weinstock MA, Oh DH. Implementing Teledermatology for Rural Veterans: An Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework. Telemed J E Health. 2021 Feb;27(2):218–226.
Journal cover image

Published In

Telemed J E Health

DOI

EISSN

1556-3669

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

218 / 226

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Rural Population
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Medical Informatics
  • Humans
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4203 Health services and systems