Inside the World of Inpatient Dermatology at Cooper Hospital
When most people think of dermatologists, they picture clinic visits for acne treatment, Botox injections, or annual skin checks. However, dermatologists can also play a crucial role in hospitals, especially when patients are dealing with severe or unexplained skin problems. Unfortunately, the vast majority of dermatology providers do not provide care in the hospital setting.
At HMGS Dermatology in South Jersey, our physicians are part of a specialized inpatient dermatology team that helps diagnose and treat complex skin conditions in hospitalized patients, often when time and accuracy matter most. Almost every weekend, a HMGS Dermatologist is found in Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ rounding on dermatology patients who rely on our expertise.
Why Inpatient Dermatology Matters
In some hospitalized patients, a rash, blisters, or discoloration might be the first sign of a serious internal illness or an adverse drug reaction. In other cases, existing conditions such as autoimmune diseases can suddenly cause new or worsening skin symptoms. Having a dermatologist available for hospital consults ensures that these changes are recognized quickly and managed appropriately.
Inpatient dermatology helps in several vital ways:
- Identifying life-threatening skin reactions caused by medications
- Diagnosing severe infections that may start or spread on the skin
- Helping manage autoimmune and blistering skin diseases that require intensive care
- Collaborating with other specialists to interpret skin findings linked to systemic diseases
Common Skin Conditions Seen in the Hospital
While outpatient dermatology visits often focus on conditions like psoriasis or moles, hospital-based care addresses much more urgent and sometimes life-threatening issues.
Some of the most common inpatient dermatologic conditions include:
- Drug eruptions (Steven-Johnson Syndrome/SJS, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis/TEN, Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis/AGEP, Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome/DHS or DRESS)
- Severe infections such as cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, staphylococcus scaled skin syndrome, and eczema herpeticum
- Autoimmune blistering disorders like pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid
- Skin manifestations of systemic diseases, such as vasculitis, lupus, and dermatomyositis, pyoderma gangrenosum
- Cutaneous metastatic disease (eg. breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, leukemia cutis)
Some patients improve within days once the correct medication or treatment is started or when a drug culprit is stopped. Patients with chronic disease require ongoing follow-up after discharge. HMGS Dermatologists at Cooper Hospital coordinate care with our outpatient team at our Camden location, in order to ensure treatment continuity. Cooper Hospital of Rowan University Dermatology residents play a critical role in the entire inpatient dermatology success experience.
Real-World Impact of Hospital Dermatology
For many patients, seeing a dermatologist during a hospital stay can be unexpected. Our dermatology team can perform biopsies at the bedside. These specimens are read by board certified Cooper Hospital dermatopathologists. A rash might provide the clue that uncovers a drug allergy, infection, or autoimmune disorder. Some skin conditions, when diagnosed quickly and correctly, can provide other collaborating physicians valuable information that greatly impacts the hospital course.
Comprehensive care is the culmination of compassion and expertise.
Trusted Inpatient Expertise, Monday through Sunday!
HMGS Dermatology is proud to serve the South Jersey community through both outpatient and hospital-based care. Our board-certified dermatologists partner closely with Cooper Hospital and other medical teams to ensure patients receive expert, compassionate care no matter where they are treated. Whether you have a new rash, a long-standing skin concern, or questions about a condition that developed in the hospital, our specialists are here to help.
Book online to schedule an appointment with HMGS Dermatology and learn more about our commitment to medical and inpatient dermatology in South Jersey.
Board Certified Dermatologists and Partners
Dr. Warren Heymann, Dr. Steven Manders, Dr. Justin Green, Dr. Lacy Sommer, Dr. Patrick McMahon, and Dr. Camille Introcaso, MD
The partners of HMGS Dermatology represent some of the most highly trained, accomplished, and respected dermatologists in the region, bringing together decades of expertise across general, pediatric, surgical, and academic dermatology. With education and training from some of the nation’s top institutions—including the University of Pennsylvania, UCSF, Temple, and Rutgers—they are board-certified in multiple subspecialties such as dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and dermatopathology. Many serve as professors and program directors at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, shaping the future of dermatology through teaching, research, and leadership. Collectively, they have held prestigious roles such as division heads, board directors, and presidents of dermatologic societies, while earning recognition through numerous “Top Doctor” awards and lifetime achievement honors. Whether advancing innovation in pediatric care, cutaneous oncology, or medical education, the HMGS partners are united by their commitment to excellence and providing the highest standard of compassionate, expert skin care to their patients.