The Cutaneous Connection: How Teledermatology Is Closing the Rural Access Gap

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Obehi Oriaifo, DNP, FNP-BC, DCNP, founder of DermaNP Solutions, a weekend teledermatology platform licensed in Iowa and Alaska, recently joined Derm Dispatch host Renata Block, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, to discuss expanding dermatology access for rural and underserved patients. Oriaifo, who also practices dermatology within the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system in Des Moines, Iowa, described the wait times and travel distances patients face in reaching a dermatology provider.

Long Wait Times Drive Patients Toward Virtual Care

Oriaifo said patients in her area often wait months for a dermatology appointment, with some traveling up to 3 hours for a visit lasting 10 to 15 minutes. She said the pattern holds even within the VA system, where she practices. "Most times, I would say about 6 months that they've been waiting," Oriaifo said.

She said extended waits allow conditions such as acne and hidradenitis suppurativa to progress, sometimes for years, before patients reach specialized dermatology care.

Weekend Model Serves Busy Working Families

DermaNP Solutions operates on Saturdays and Sundays, allowing patients to avoid taking time off work or pulling children out of school for dermatology visits. Oriaifo, a mother herself, built the schedule around working professionals and busy families managing conditions such as eczema flares. "It's for that busy family, busy mom who doesn't want to pull their kids out of school to look at their eczema flare-up," she said.

The platform launched in fall 2025, and Oriaifo currently runs it independently, though she said she remains open to bringing on additional providers and mentoring new nurse practitioners and physician assistants entering dermatology.

Platform Targets Dermatology Deserts in Iowa and Alaska

Oriaifo licensed DermaNP Solutions in Iowa and Alaska based on provider shortages in each state. She said Alaska has approximately 33 dermatologists for a population of 741,000 and only 1 board-certified dermatology nurse practitioner. Iowa, she said, has approximately 188 dermatologists and 15 dermatology nurse practitioners for a population of 3.2 million.

"It's about representation, it's about accessibility, redefining the quality of skin care," Oriaifo said, adding she wants to build trust in communities of color and other populations historically overlooked in dermatology.

Self-Pay Structure Emphasizes Transparency and Longer Visits

The platform runs on a self-pay, cash-based model and accepts HSA payments. Oriaifo also provides superbills so patients can seek insurance reimbursement independently. New patients receive 30-minute visits rather than a typical 10- to 15-minute dermatology appointment.

"I want transparency in care," Oriaifo said. She added she wants patients to know their visit cost upfront rather than facing unexpected charges afterward.

Oriaifo closed by encouraging other advanced practice providers pursuing similar ventures to seek out mentors and stay open to ongoing learning. "Stay curious, embrace the learning curve. We don't know it all," she said.