The patient journey: a voyage from diagnosis to hidradenitis suppurativa multidisciplinary unit

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory, recurrent and debilitating chronic skin disease that is often worsened by comorbidities, with a destructive impact on the social and working life of the patient. The low awareness of patients and clinicians regarding HS, together with weak coordination between specialists who manage the clinical care of these patients, may result in a burdening diagnostic and therapeutic delay, lowering efficacy of therapies and worsening prognosis and patients' QoL. Objectives: To rule out these critical aspects, a HS-Multidisciplinary Unit with a hierarchical organization is proposed. Methods: Based on previously published models of a multidisciplinary unit, a hierarchical structure of a HS-dedicated multidisciplinary unit was designed. Results: In this model, an operational core constituted by four healthcare professionals constantly working as team, is supported by a large panel of consultants, local dermatologists and general practitioners, helping in HS patient management. Conclusions: This standardization would imply an optimization of professional resources, an amelioration of patient’s quality of life, and a shortening of patient journey.