Should all dermatologists still be considered 'dermato-venereologists' in the year 2013?
Kuiters, G.R.R.; Ruijs, G.J.H.M.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 157(12): A5716
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 23515040 Document Number: 666180
This commentary primarily focuses on the appropriateness of the predicate 'venereologist' for dermatologists in the Netherlands. If the quantity of care delivered were to be the most important factor needed for the qualification 'venereologist', the answer to the title question would undoubtedly be 'no' because more than 70% of sexually transmitted disease (STD) care is delivered in primary care centres. After the reorganisation of STD care in the Netherlands in 2006, 8 coordinating municipal STD centres were allocated for the primary care of pre-defined risk groups. By utilizing multidisciplinary guidelines, the Dutch Society of Dermatologists and Venereologists plays an important coordinating and supervisory role in current primary and in-hospital STD care.