Study of Cross-Referrals to the Dermatology Department in an Inpatient Setting at a Tertiary Care Center

The study, conducted over a 2-year period, analyzed the records of 243 patients referred to a dermatology department in a tertiary care center. The aim was to understand the incidence and reasons for inpatient dermatology referrals and their impact on patient management. The results showed that dermatologic consultation significantly improved the management of skin lesions in about two-thirds of the referred patients. The majority of referrals came from the general medicine department, with "skin rash" being the most common reason for seeking a second opinion. However, there was a concordance in diagnosis between the referring clinician and the dermatologist in only 30.2% of the cases. The study concluded that while dermatologic referrals do enhance patient care, there is a need for better training of non-dermatologists to recognize and treat common skin conditions.