AI-Assisted Dermatology in Provider Shortage Areas: A Systematic Review of Access and Wait Time Outcomes.
Artificial intelligence-supported tools are associated with high diagnostic accuracy in dermatology.
AI-Assisted Dermatology in Provider Shortage Areas: A Systematic Review of Access and Wait Time Outcomes.
Access to dermatologic care remains a persistent challenge in the United States, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
This article evaluates whether AI-assisted technology, compared to traditional in-person dermatology care, shortens wait times to less than 30 days for patients living in provider shortage areas.
A systematic review was conducted between March and June 2025 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
Included studies demonstrated that AI-assisted technologies, particularly when integrated into teledermatology systems, significantly reduced dermatology wait times, often to fewer than 30 days.
Task shifting to nonspecialist providers with AI support was found to be safe and effective.
Despite promising outcomes, concerns related to image quality, algorithmic bias, and uneven implementation remain.
AI-assisted dermatologic tools show strong potential to improve access to care and reduce wait times in provider shortage areas.
These technologies could support timely diagnosis, streamline referrals, and enable safe task shifting to primary care teams.
Importantly, findings highlight the role of nurse practitioners (NPs), particularly those with limited dermatology training, in leveraging AI as both an educational and clinical decision support tool.