The digital eczema centre utrecht

J Telemed Telecare. 2010;16(1):12-4. doi: 10.1258/jtt.2009.001005.

Abstract

The University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) has developed an eczema portal that combines e-consulting, monitoring and self-management training by a dermatology nurse online for patients and parents of young children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Patient satisfaction with the portal was high. It could be extended to become a Digital Eczema Centre for multidisciplinary collaboration between health-care providers from different locations and the patient. Before starting the construction of the Digital Eczema Centre, the feasibility was examined by carrying out a business case analysis. The purposes, strength and weaknesses showed that the Digital Eczema Centre offered opportunities to improve care for patients with AD. The financial analysis resulted in a medium/best case scenario with a positive result of euro50-240,000 over a period of five years. We expect that the Digital Eczema Centre will increase the accessibility and quality of care. The web-based patient record and the digital chain-of-care promote the involvement of patients, parents and multidisciplinary teams as well as the continuity and coordination of care.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Continuity of Patient Care / economics
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / epidemiology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / nursing
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / therapy*
  • Dermatology / economics*
  • Eczema
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Health Services Accessibility / standards
  • Hospitals, Special / economics*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Patient Care Team*
  • Software / economics