Factors Shifting Preference Toward Telemedicine in the Delivery of Skin Cancer Reconstruction Care

Strategic insights of telehealth platforms and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis of Amazon's clinical endeavors

BACKGROUND

The adoption of telehealth services surged after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, revolutionizing traditional healthcare delivery models. Amazon Clinic's recent nationwide launch marks a significant milestone in this trend. This study aims to offer a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of Amazon Clinic and compare its features with leading virtual healthcare platforms.

AIM

To evaluate Amazon Clinic's telehealth services through a SWOT analysis and compare its features with other leading virtual healthcare platforms.

METHODS

The initial search terms included were, amazon clinic odds ratio (OR) amwell OR Teladoc OR Walmart virtual health service OR CVS minute clinic OR CirrusMD OR brightside health, from 2000 to 2023. This search yielded 111 articles, from which duplicates were removed, and unrelated titles were filtered out. Eight articles were retained for a final review, including comparative studies, usability research, retrospective analyses, observational studies, and review articles. The data was organized and analyzed using Rayyan software and summarized in a table and PRISMA flowcharts.

RESULTS

The review included eight articles focusing on various aspects of telehealth. Comparative studies highlighted differences between Teladoc and traditional physician offices, noting lower diagnostic imaging orders and antibiotic prescriptions for Teladoc. User demographics for Teladoc showed younger, less engaged patients. Usability studies emphasized the importance of website design for telemedicine adoption. Tele-mental health platforms like Brightside showed superior outcomes in treating depression compared to traditional methods. Telemedicine for specialized fields like skin reconstruction demonstrated cost efficiency and reduced waiting times. The SWOT analysis identified Amazon Clinic's strengths, such as its vast consumer base and transparent pricing, and weaknesses like the lack of pediatric care. Opportunities included potential partnerships and service expansions, while threats involved competition and regulatory challenges.

CONCLUSION

Amazon Clinic's entry into the telehealth sector represents a significant development with various strengths and opportunities. However, it faces challenges from established healthcare providers and regulatory landscapes. The future success of Amazon Clinic will depend on strategic collaborations, addressing service gaps, and navigating competition and regulations. Telemedicine's impact will hinge on its ability to effectively leverage these opportunities and overcome inherent challenges in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

The role of teledermatology in Mohs micrographic surgery: a review

This paper explores the role of teledermatology (TD) in Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) at various stages of patient care. The study aims to assess the benefits, limitations, and patient experiences surrounding TD integration into MMS practices. We conducted a PubMed search using keywords related to TD and MMS, categorizing selected articles into pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative stages of MMS. TD reduced waiting times (26.10 days for TD compared to 60.57 days for face-to-face [FTF]) and consultation failure rates (6% for TD vs. 17% for FTF) for MMS preoperative consultations. It also shortened time to treatment by two weeks and led to notable travel savings (162.7 min, 144.5 miles, and $60.00 per person). Telepathology facilitated communication and decision-making during MMS, improving accuracy and efficiency, especially in challenging cases requiring collaboration where physical presence of another surgeon or pathologist is not feasible. Telepathology definitively diagnosed benign lesions and malignant tumors in 81.8% of cases (18/22). Additionally, there was a 95% agreement between conventional light microscopy diagnosis and telepathology in tumors (19/20), and 100% agreement for all 20 Mohs frozen section consultations. For post-operative follow-up, telephone follow-up (TFU) and text messaging proved effective, cost-efficient alternatives with high patient satisfaction (94% in New Zealand and 96% in the U.K.) and early complication identification. This study underscores TD's multifaceted benefits in MMS: enhanced patient experience preoperatively, improved communication during surgery, and cost-effective postoperative follow-up. Limitations include the financial expense and technical issues that can arise with TD (connectivity problems, delays in video/audio transmission, etc.). Further studies are needed to explore emerging TD modalities in post-operative patient management. The integration of TD into MMS signifies a progressive step in dermatological care, offering convenient, cost-effective, and better solutions with the potential to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.