Online Resource Can Enhance Dermatologic Diagnostic Skills

Family physicians looking to boost their diagnostic skills in dermatology have a new online tool to explore. The Academy has teamed up with Logical Images Inc. to offer VisualDx, now available to all active AAFP members at a discounted price.

VisualDx gives physicians access to a searchable database of thousands of medical images and hundreds of diagnoses. The physician logs in to the program and enters the patient's symptoms, medical history and other clinically relevant findings. Within seconds, VisualDx displays photographs and text with possible diagnoses. Further descriptors provided by the physician can narrow the search focus until a match with the patient's condition is found.

Bruce Bagley, M.D., AAFP medical director of quality improvement, encouraged FPs to test the online tool's usability by taking advantage of two free VisualDx modules available through the AAFP's Web site. Members also can check out a free tutorial -- Morphology Tutorial: How to Describe and Classify Skin Lesions -- available from the same Web page.

Bagley said that although family physicians are skilled at diagnosing and managing dermatologic problems, most FPs occasionally encounter unfamiliar conditions. "If a physician is stumped in a diagnosis, this could be a good resource," said Bagley. "These photos can also be shared with patients to assure them that you have made the correct diagnosis," he added.

Members can purchase a one-year license for access to the VisualDx - Family Medicine package for $199. Licenses are noninstitutional and for single clinician use only. However, small family medicine practices have the option of purchasing licenses for up to five concurrent users. Purchase of a VisualDx license allows the user to run VisualDx from any computer that meets the system requirements.