Tips on Patient Communication in Dermatology, With Kassandra Holzem, MD

A new HCPLive interview highlighted the need for a delicate balance between deciding when to call for emergency care among patients in dermatology, as well as the need for transparency with patients.

This interview featured Kassandra Holzem, MD, assistant professor of Dermatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, who spoke with the team at the 2025 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Holzem was asked about takeaways from ‘Difficult Cases & Red Flags in Dermatology: When to Admit From the Clinic,’ and specifically about issues related to whether patients are skeptical about hospital admission if it is recommended.1,2

“That definitely factors into it,” Holzem said. “Obviously, ERs are very busy nowadays. Frequently, patients will wait for a really long time too, especially depending on what time of day they're going or what day of the week it is…I think it's something that you just have to be open and honest with your patients about, saying, ‘Listen, I need you to go to the emergency room. You might have to wait a while, but I'm worried that this could be very severe or worrisome for you if you weren't treated in that setting.’”

Additionally, Holzem highlights concerns over cost as a factor impacting patient decisions to admit themselves to an emergency room. Nevertheless, she stressed the importance of communication with patients about risks versus benefits.

“I do think transparency is important, because I think then the patients relate better to you and understand what to expect,” Holzem explained. “...I think also, if you, as a clinician, have the opportunity to directly admit, sometimes we do. We are at institutions that are affiliated with a hospital, and so we might be able to page someone called the admitting medical officer and talk to them directly, and admit from the clinic. That's sometimes a possibility. If we do that, then they actually can bypass the ER, which is really nice. I will say, there are usually a lot of hurdles and headaches with that…but that's something to consider if you do have the ability to do so.”

To find out more on this topic, view Holzem’s full video segment posted above. For more information covered at SDPA, view the latest conference coverage.

The quotes implemented in Holzem’s video summary were edited for clarity.

Holzem had no relevant financial disclosures of note.

References

1. Holzem K. Difficult Cases & Red Flags in Dermatology: When to Admit From the Clinic. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.

2. Holzem K, Goff H. Stump the Experts. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.