Implementation science (IS) has been recognized for its potential to improve the integration of evidence-based practices into routine dermatology care The COVID-19 Pandemic led to rapid telemedicine implementation by dermatologists worldwide We aimed to use tools from IS to identify factors associated with the successful implementation of telemedicine during the COVID-19 crisis An anonymous, online survey was distributed to Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) members It incorporated sub-scales from the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment, a validated measure of organizational characteristics that predict implementation success A total of 35 dermatologists responded with 91 4% in academic practice All respondents (100%) implemented or scaled-up telemedicine during the pandemic Most agreed or strongly agreed that they had sufficient training (68 6%), financial resources (57 1%), and facilities (57 2%) However, only 42 8% agreed or strongly agreed that they had adequate staffing support All providers agreed that telemedicine reduced travel time and expense for patients;additional COVID-19 specific advantages included continued patient care, avoiding risk of infection, and work flexibility (from home) Barriers to telemedicine implementation included technology issues (62 9%) and challenges caring for elderly patients (51 4%) Overall, the hybrid model of synchronous video/audio visits with stored digital photographs was the most favored telemedicine modality (65 7%), and 90 6% of providers reported telemedicine was acceptable for existing patients and medication monitoring Importantly, 94 3% of respondents plan to use telemedicine after the pandemic This study revealed that despite the advantages of telemedicine for dermatologists during the pandemic, there were clear limitations In sum, our survey used IS research methods to identify organizational factors that can be optimized to improve future telemedicine implementation efforts in dermatology
652 Using implementation science to understand teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic