VisualDx and DermExpert Review
VisualDx is a user-friendly clinical decision support system leveraging artificial intelligence to improve patient care and save you time. It's a no-brainer for me. Get it.
Medical Reviewer: Jordan P. Roberts, PA-C
VisualDx Summary
Key Purchasing Decision Points:
Content remains cutting edge, but no scheduled interval updates or additions
Practice-improving features validated and published in top-tier peer reviewed medical journals
Unlimited category 1 CME credits
Web/mobile app; point of care tool
One year subscription
1 year for $999 | 2 years for $1,499
1 year for $499
Free 10th gen 64GB iPad with 1 or 2 year CME plan
TBA
Top Features
Customized differential builder + guided workup
400+ patient handouts
Earn 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits ™ with every search
Concise, actionable synopses for conditions seen in every specialty
Institutional Features
IP authentication
UpToDate interoperability
Integration with EHR
Risk CME accredited
Free iPad with purchase. No promo code required.
Pros
- Unlimited CME earning potential for 1-2 years
- Proven benefits for clinicians and patients
- Reduce diagnostic error, save time, and reduce costs
- Free 64GB 10th gen iPad with purchase
- Unlimited CME earning potential for 1-2 years
- Proven benefits for clinicians and patients
- Reduce diagnostic error, save time, and reduce costs
Cons
- Not ideal for those who struggle to learn visually
- High tech nature may be intimidating for some (but is easy to use, trust me!)
A Mission To Improve Diagnostic Accuracy
VisualDx is a user-friendly artificial intelligence-enhanced visual clinical decision support system that can be used in just about every specialty.
It is available on desktop, android, iOS, and is one medical app that I personally think is a must-have for all practicing clinicians.
With the ambitious goal of improving diagnostic accuracy and patient care, VisualDx does this with concise, peer-reviewed content thoughtfully designed for use at the point of care.
Here, we’ll be discussing VisualDx, as well as their specialty add-on feature, DermExpert, to see if either would be a worthwhile addition to your practice.
Let's go through my personal process. Before using any medical app, I ask myself three questions:
- Does it work (is it evidence-based and clinically useful)?
- Can I use it when I need to (in the exam room or on my relaxing 20-second lunch break)?
- Can I easily earn and claim category 1 CME from it?
We’ll answer those questions and more, including if it is worth the price tag. Onward.
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VisualDx Overview
What started as a modest dermatology reference has grown into the world’s largest medical image library, encompassing just about every medical specialty, from COVID-19 to psychiatry.
My friends at Logical Images let me try their product, and I’m excited to tell you about my experience.
You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, VisualDx takes that concept to the next level. See for yourself.
There are a few useful ways to use this app, which we’ll go through below.
Build a Differential Diagnosis
This is probably the most unique and valuable component of this product (without DermExpert, that is).
The system will guide you through building a differential diagnosis based on the patient’s chief concern. You can also use the somehow even easier quick-start differential builder to arrive at a differential diagnosis and considerations for the workup in no time.
The more information and specificity you can enter, the stronger the differential will be, just like any other time in practice.
You’ll know by the meter at the top of the screen, so you can adjust your confidence appropriately.
Workflow
Once you’ve entered the presenting sign or symptom, the app guides you through what is essentially a focused HPI, review of systems, and physical examination, most of which you have presumably already done, or at least started.
What’s reassuring is that you’ll be prompted to consider additional questions in case you’ve already seen 35 patients with a cough and fever that day.
Our minds can get fatigued, we may forget to check our biases, and an infinite number of distractions seem to be out to get us, especially after a long day of clinic.
However, the AI does not tire or get bored of seeing the same thing over and over again, which you can use to your advantage.
Nobody is saying an app replaces clinical thinking, but used strategically, it most certainly can augment your skills and knowledge.
Once you’ve come to the differential, you may be pleased to see that many of yours are on this page. Like any good differential, there are primary and secondary considerations, worst-case-scenarios, and results broken down by organ system.
Most of us probably do something like this every time we see a patient, but this lays it all out in a visually appealing, user-friendly interface.
Review Any Condition from the Robust Database
What if the diagnosis is already made? We’ve all done a quick online search before seeing a patient with Leriche syndrome listed on their medical history.
It’s ok to wonder to yourself, “What the *** is that again? Are you sure they taught that in medical school?” Especially if it’s something you (or anyone else for that matter) rarely see outside of a textbook.
To review a condition, type it into the search bar you'll be taken to a general overview. Each condition (even Leriche syndrome) has an accompanying visual representation – called the Sympticon (clever, no?) – to provide a brief summary of the condition.
It also comes with a concise, no-frills, action-points-only summary of the condition. Synopsis, differential, workup, maybe a couple of pearls, treatment, boom. Done. Perfect for the clinic or on rounds.
Sample Search (with pictures)
See for yourself. Here’s their entry on generalized anxiety disorder. I was particularly impressed just how far they’ve been able to branch out from dermatology to other specialties without sacrificing quality.
Since we’re talking about a visual reference here, let’s stick with that theme. But to show the range of content, let's try a topic from the decidedly not visual specialty of psychiatry.
From the homepage, I searched for “GAD.” I was shown suggestions for building a differential diagnoses, from gadolinium to gadavist, along with results for conditions matching my search.
Tap to enlarge
You can see results from the ‘Build a differential diagnosis’ section listed right away, with the ‘Diagnoses’ section below.
Selecting generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is what I intended, you are taken to the entry for the condition.
Tap to enlarge
Easy Navigation
On the desktop version, you’ll find a table of contents, patient handouts, and links to other resources, notably Up-To-Date and PubMed, on the left side of the screen.
It also has ICD10 codes to help with your documentation. That's a helpful feature we can all use, particularly if our EMR doesn't do it for us.
When I used my android device to perform this search, the same options were under a hamburger menu on the right.
Basically I’m saying that if you made it all the way here on the internet, you’ll have no problem using VisualDx.
How to Earn CME at the Point of Care
Whenever you build a differential or look up a diagnosis with VisualDx, you accrue potential CME credits.
They remain ‘potential’ until you complete the CME credits in your account by answering the standard required questions (there are only two). From there, hit ‘claim’ then print or save your certificate.
It appears that each search or differential you build is worth 0.5 credits, which seems reasonable to me.
I looked up several more conditions, built a differential, and used DermExpert for this article and noticed the credits in my account really added up quickly.
Great option if you are one of those procrastinators who waits until the last minute to get your CME (hint: most of us are, so don’t feel bad).
VisualDx Summary
The value for the price is unprecedented. For all this system can do, I would pay double the price without a second thought.
Triple if I worked in primary care. Seriously, it’s that good. And that’s not even taking the potential CME you can earn into consideration.
- So, does it work? Yes, better than expected
- Can I use it when I need to? Abso-flipping-lutely
- Can I easily earn and claim CME from it? Sure can!
Is it worth the price? That’s an easy and emphatic yes from us.
Our exclusive offer gets you a year (without DermExpert) for $650, plus a free virtual Amazon gift card as a bonus. Or get a 2-year plan for $1350 and a $500 gift card.
Read my story on what surprised me about DermExpert below.
The value for the price is unprecedented. For all this system can do, I would pay double the price without a second thought.
Triple if I worked in primary care. Seriously, it’s that good. And that’s not even taking the potential CME you can earn into consideration.
- So, does it work? Yes, better than expected
- Can I use it when I need to? Abso-flipping-lutely
- Can I easily earn and claim CME from it? Sure can!
Is it worth the price? That’s an easy and emphatic yes from us.
Our exclusive offer gets you a one year CME subscription for $999 or a two year plan for just $1,499. Both come with a free 10th gen 64GB iPad (a $450 value) with VisualDx preinstalled and unlimited CME credits.
Read my story on what surprised me about DermExpert below.
The value for the price is unprecedented. For all this system can do, I would pay double the price without a second thought.
Triple if I worked in primary care. Seriously, it’s that good. And that’s not even taking the potential CME you can earn into consideration.
- So, does it work? Yes, better than expected
- Can I use it when I need to? Abso-flipping-lutely
- Can I easily earn and claim CME from it? Sure can!
Is it worth the price? That’s an easy and emphatic yes from us.
Read my story on what surprised me about DermExpert below.
DermExpert Review
Moving on. I am super impressed with DermExpert. Full transparency, my clinical background is in neurosurgery and psychiatry, definitely not dermatology.
But I think that’s the point. Most skin conditions aren’t managed by dermatologists.
So I decided to test it out on an undisclosed newborn daughter of mine.
Methodology
She just so happened to develop a mild rash on her face during the second week of life. I know, I know, I can hear all you derm folks shouting the diagnosis at me now, but bear with me.
I opened the VisualDx DermExpert app on my android, snapped a picture, and up came a list of differential diagnoses, images to which I could compare the actual condition, and options for next steps.
It was so easy even a surgeon (or mental health professional) could do it.
Security
The technology is cloud-based and HIPAA-compliant, and pictures you take are not stored, as an extra layer of security. Since I was taking pictures of my kid, this was a must-have for me.
Back to our experiment. Like any good clinician-scientist, I then curbsided a friend, who happens to be a pediatric dermatologist, and asked her to look at the rash.
We also had a well-visit scheduled with our daughter’s pediatrician the following day. All three (pediatric dermatology, pediatrics, and VisualDx DermExpert) agreed on the diagnosis.
To obtain an unbiased result, I did not inform either of them of the other’s differential beforehand. The consensus?
Results
A less than exciting case of neonatal acne. Of course, that may not be the hardest diagnosis to get right, but when you work in psychiatry, (ahem, me), every rash might as well be Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
DermExpert also has a quiz feature where you can test your knowledge and compete against clinicians from around the world via leaderboards.
DermExpert Quiz Example
Here's a screenshot of one of the quiz questions from my Android device.
As you can see (get it), it's pretty straightforward; an image and five options from which to choose.
Choose the number of questions, specialty area, and you're on your way in no time.
Easy studying, CME, and diagnosis verification.
VisualDx with DermExpert Summary
So to recap; DermExpert is great for broadening your differential, confirming your suspicions, and identifying possible next steps in the workup or management of the patient.
For new clinicians, using this, along with collaboration from more senior practitioners, can help you feel more comfortable with your clinical thinking sooner than you otherwise would.
- So, does it work? Yes!
- Can I use it when I need to? Sure can!
- Can I easily earn CME from it? Can and did!
Is it worth the price? Individual licenses cost $750 per year (or $1500 for a 2-year subscription) and comes with all the features of VisualDx Complete. Oh, and a free $250 or $500 gift card.
Whether or not you are using your CME money to purchase access to this app, it is well worth it.
Folks like neurosurgeons and psychiatrists would likely benefit most from VisualDx alone.
On the other hand, clinicians in primary care, internal medicine, infectious disease, hospital medicine, urgent care, and anyone else who treats patients with skin should at least consider upgrading to VisualDx with DermExpert.
The extra $100 a year is well worth the headaches it can save you.
So to recap; DermExpert is great for broadening your differential, confirming your suspicions, and identifying possible next steps in the workup or management of the patient.
For new clinicians, using this, along with collaboration from more senior practitioners, can help you feel more comfortable with your clinical thinking sooner than you otherwise would.
- So, does it work? Yes!
- Can I use it when I need to? Sure can!
- Can I easily earn CME from it? Can and did!
Is it worth the price? Individual licenses normally cost $499 per year. However, because we've struck a special deal with them, you can get a year of CME from VisualDx for $999 with a free 10th generation 64GB iPad. Or get a 2 year plan for just $1,499.
Whether or not you are using your CME money to purchase access to this app, it is well worth it. By spending your CME stipend on the current deal, you'll also get a great piece of technology pre-loaded with VisualDx.
Folks like neurosurgeons and psychiatrists would likely benefit most from VisualDx alone.
On the other hand, clinicians in primary care, internal medicine, infectious disease, hospital medicine, urgent care, and anyone else who treats patients with skin should at least consider upgrading to VisualDx with DermExpert for an extra $100.
However, because of our special deal, you'll get DermExpert for free anyways. No additional action required.
So to recap; DermExpert is great for broadening your differential, confirming your suspicions, and identifying possible next steps in the workup or management of the patient.
For new clinicians, using this, along with collaboration from more senior practitioners, can help you feel more comfortable with your clinical thinking sooner than you otherwise would.
- So, does it work? Yes!
- Can I use it when I need to? Sure can!
- Can I easily earn CME from it? Can and did!
Is it worth the price? Whether or not you are using your CME money to purchase access to this app, it is well worth it.
Folks like neurosurgeons and psychiatrists would likely benefit most from VisualDx alone.
On the other hand, clinicians in primary care, internal medicine, infectious disease, hospital medicine, urgent care, and anyone else who treats patients with skin should at least consider upgrading to VisualDx with DermExpert for an extra $100.
However, because of our special deal, you'll get DermExpert for free anyways. No additional action required.
VisualDx CME with Free iPad Offer
- You'll automatically get a free 64GB 10th generation iPad ($450 value) with CME subscription purchase
- Choose a one or two year plan
- 1 year + iPad: $999
- 2 years + iPad: $1,499
Further Reading
How to Spend Leftover CME Money Before It Expires
Because CME stipends are a use it or lose it benefit, you need to spend any leftover CME money before year's end to make the most of it. Here's how you can do that.
Emergency Medicine CME with Free Gift Card
Emergency medicine CME with free gift cards offer convenient ways for EM physicians, PAs, & nurse practitioners to spend leftover CME money
*This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the ACCME through the joint providership of Med-IQ and VisualDx.
Med-IQ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Med-IQ designates this point of care activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
