Cellulitis is a common skin condition that often leads to hospital admissions, but it’s frequently misdiagnosed—nearly 30% of hospital admissions for cellulitis are incorrect. Misdiagnosis results in unnecessary admissions, inappropriate antibiotic use, and patient harm.
The Challenge:
Misdiagnosis of cellulitis costs U.S. healthcare systems over $1 billion annually due to unnecessary treatments and admissions.
The VisualDx Solution:
The University of Maryland Medical System integrated VisualDx, an image-based clinical decision support tool, into their electronic health records. This tool aids in distinguishing cellulitis from its mimics at the point of care.
The Impact:
- 38% Reduction in Admissions: Emergency Department clinicians saw a 38% relative decrease in unnecessary hospital admissions when using VisualDx during the diagnostic process.
- Decreased Antibiotic Use: Proper identification of cellulitis mimics, facilitated by VisualDx, significantly reduced the inappropriate use of antibiotics
The integration of VisualDx into clinical practice at the University of Maryland Medical System has proven to be a valuable tool in improving diagnostic accuracy for cellulitis, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
For more details, view the study.