Converting to digital photography: a model for a large group or academic practice.

Digital photography has become an economical and efficient substitute for conventional photography. We recently converted our resident clinical photography to a digital format to make archiving more efficient and to save the costs of clinical photography. We present a model that can be applied to a large group or academic practice outlining the conversion of our clinical photography to digital format. We discuss the costs that we have incurred during the past 3 years of conventional photography, the economic benefit and costs for conversion to digital, and a 5-year projection of savings using digital photography. We also discuss the advantages of digital photography and the equipment needed for the conversion.