Objective
To assess the experience, views and opinions of rheumatology providers at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities about rheumatic disease healthcare issues during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Methods
We performed an anonymized cross‐sectional survey, conducted from April 16 to May 18, 2020, of VA rheumatology providers. We assessed provider perspective on COVID‐19 issues and resilience.
Results
Of the 153 eligible VA rheumatologists, 103 (67%) completed the survey. A significant proportion of providers reported ≥50% increase related to COVID‐19 in visits by: (1) telephone, 53%; (2) video‐based VA video connect (VVC), 44%; and (3) clinical video telehealth (CVT) with a facilitator, 29%. A majority of the responders were somewhat or very comfortable with technology for providing healthcare to established patients during COVID‐19 pandemic using: (1) telephone, 87%; (2) VA video connect (VVC), 64%; and (3) in‐person visits, 54%. A smaller proportion were comfortable with technology providing healthcare to new patients. At least 65% of rheumatologists considered telephone visits appropriate for established patients with gout, osteoporosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, stable rheumatoid arthritis, stable spondyloarthritis, or osteoarthritis; 32% reported a rheumatology medication shortage. Adjusted for age, sex and ethnicity, high provider resilience was associated with significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of comfort with technology for telephone (OR, 3.1 (95% CI, 1.1‐9.7)) and VVC visits for new patients (OR, 4.7 (95% CI, 1.4‐15.7)).
Conclusions
A better understanding of COVID‐19 rheumatic disease healthcare issues using a health‐system approach can better inform providers, improve provider satisfaction and have positive effects on the care of Veterans with rheumatic disease.