Latin American recommendations for safe consultation in dermatology

Ocampo-Candiani J.; Ivonne Arellano-Mendoza M.; Arenas R.; Beirana-Palencia A.; Cabo H.A.; Cohen-Sabban E.N.; Del Solar M.; Domínguez-Cherit J.; Fich F.; Galimberti G.; Gatti C.F.; García-Rementería C.; López-Estebaranz J.L.; Lupi O.; Olmos-Pérez M.; Ricardo Perez-Alfonzo; Ramos-Cavazos C.J.; Salmon-Demongin A. · Medicina Cutanea Ibero-Latino-Americana (2020) · DOI: 10.24875/mcut.20000137

Resumen

Objective: Strengthening health protection for patients, as well as for the specialist and their support staff because the COVID-19 pandemic imposes modifications to medical practice. Material and methods: A group of Latin American dermatology experts designated by the Mexican Society of Dermatology and the Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology (CILAD) issued recommendations for safe dermatological practice within the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding basic information, training, and supervision in personal protection, patient history, file management, improvement in non-medical areas related to the control of the consultation room, along with the surveillance of probable cases of infection in patients. Results: The recommendations cover the activities before, during, and after the consultation. Aspects such as office arrangement, work flow control, asepsis, time and care of dermatological areas and the use of digital media are discussed. Conclusions: The design of adequate protocols depends on the specialists understanding the characteristics of the behavior of COVID-19 cases in their location, maintaining contact with health authorities and symptom attention centers, to determine the closing and reopening times of the clinic.