Case Studies
Case studies showcase real-world applications of policies and innovations, offering insights into improving outcomes and efficiency. They enhance problem-solving skills, highlight best practices, and engage through storytelling for education and transparency.
Interest(s): Breakthrough Collaboratives, Emerging Technology, Hospital Donation Process & Education, Innovation, Organ Allocation (Offer and Acceptance), Organ Preservation and Perfusion, Patient Safety, Telehealth / Telemedicine, Tissue Donation
Organ(s): Eye, Heart, Intestine, Islet Cells, Kidney, Liver, Lung, Pancreas, Small Bowel, Tissue, Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA)
Patient Group(s): Adult
Share
Streamlining Dermatologic Evaluation in Donation: A Teledermatology Model for Improved Outcomes
Bob
Kelley
, Specialist Direct
The Challenge
With expanding donor criteria and an aging population, incidental skin findings on potential organ and tissue donors are increasingly common. Such lesions frequently raise malignancy concerns, often resulting in critical delays or the non-utilization of otherwise viable organs. OPOs have traditionally lacked an efficient, timely process for dermatologic evaluation, often relying on unsecured photo transmissions or delayed local consultations. This gap in workflow contributes to diagnostic uncertainty, prolonged donor allocation times, and missed organ allocation opportunities. This project was designed to implement a standardized teledermatology workflow to support faster, expert-level evaluation of skin lesions, seamlessly integrated directly into the donor assessment process.
The Approach
A teledermatology solution was developed by Specialist Direct, fully integrated within the proprietary SDI Cloud platform. This model allows OPO staff to capture high-resolution images of skin lesions using directly at the point of care. These images are then securely uploaded to SDI Cloud, where a network of board-certified dermatologists with transplant experience provide expert evaluation of them 24/7/365. Reports are returned quickly to the OPO, including diagnostic impressions and recommendations. This approach enables consistent access to expert interpretations, provides formal reporting, and ensures lesion assessments are both secure and clinically actionable. By eliminating the need for in-person dermatology access or the use of unsecured image-sharing methods like email or text, the solution streamlines the donor evaluation process.
The Results
Demonstrated an average reduction of 4 hours in dermatologic evaluation turnaround time. Decreased allocation delays attributed to inconclusive or protracted lesion assessments. Enabled secure, HIPAA-compliant image sharing through SDI Cloud.
Resulted in a standardized and simplified workflow for OPO personnel using standard mobile devices, reducing procedural complexity and saving staff time per donor assessment. Provided 24/7/365 access to transplant-specialized dermatologists, facilitating evaluations at any stage of the donor process, even after hours. Enhanced OPO confidence in donor acceptance decisions, as evidenced by reduced deferral and discard rates for skin lesions. Implemented standardized reporting for each case to support documentation accuracy and streamline compliance processes within OPOs.
Insights & Lessons Learned
Specialist Direct’s teledermatology solution effectively addresses a critical gap in donor evaluation workflows by enabling rapid, expert-level dermatologic review directly from the point of care. As donor profiles evolve and incidental skin lesions become more prevalent, this solution empowers OPOs to confidently evaluate and place organs that may otherwise be declined, reducing unnecessary non-utilization. Leveraging mobile capture, secure cloud-based submission, and access to transplant-trained dermatologists 24/7/365, this model provides a scalable, efficient path toward reducing non-utilization and improving transplant outcomes.