Skin cancer in regional, rural and remote Australia; opportunities for service improvement through technological advances and interdisciplinary care

Abstract

Age standardised skin cancers (melanoma and non-melanoma) continue to increase in Australia, although they are stabilising for those under age 40. People living in regional, rural and remote Australia have higher rates of skin cancer and challenges accessing care. Better targeting of skin protection measures and improved opportunistic screening have been promoted as ways to improve care for these populations as have increased use of information technology and upskilling of primary health care nurses. The Australian Government supports that Optimal Cancer Care Pathways for skin cancers be used as a key resource in exploring best practice models of care for skin cancer patients both for the development of digital platforms and face to face multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). Better use of technology has been a core recommendation of national health and skin cancer organisations for improving prevention and early detection of skin cancer. Skin cancers, as a primarily visual diagnosis are considered one of the prime areas for technological health interventions. The harnessing of artificial intelligence (AI) technology as a tool for early detection and disease management of skin cancers has great potential to reduce the burden of health care costs to the regional, rural and remote community and improve health outcomes.