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?:abstract
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BACKGROUND Many dermatologists have experienced significant changes to their practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE It is vital to recognize how the pandemic has affected dermatology practices and identify methods to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety. METHODS Private practice dermatologists in metropolitan areas were interviewed regarding various issues, including patient volume, types of visits or procedures being performed, screening for COVID-19, and operational modifications. RESULTS On average, there was a 65.2% decrease in patient volume during the initial surge of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was improved to a 15.5% decrease in July 2020. Despite this reduction in patient volume, the proportion of acute dermatologic issues, biopsies performed, and skin cancer concerns were all increased compared to pre-COVID. All of the dermatologists reported notable changes in regards to scheduling, staff, operations, and workplaces. LIMITATIONS Interview participants were limited to metropolitan dermatologists mainly within the California region. CONCLUSION Improving patient communication, implementing protocols to facilitate social distancing, and utilizing teledermatology were reported to be essential to optimizing efficiency and safety. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is important that dermatologists identify specific ways to practice efficiently and effectively, while mitigating the spread of the virus.
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