Rheumatology Care Using Telemedicine

Rezaian, Michael M.; Brent, Lawrence H.; Roshani, Shima; Ziaee, Mahmood; Sobhani, Fahimeh; Dorbeigi, Abbas; Fatehi, Zahra; Hardy, Jonathan; Haghi, Yeganeh Ragati; Maghsoudi, Taneen; Beinaghi, Fateme

doi:10.1089/tmj.2018.0256

Cited by 35 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Prior studies have shown the benefit of synchronous telehealth modalities within rheumatology such as videoconference visits [5][6][7][8][9], but there is little published about the impact of asynchronous E-consults. Scheibe et al [10], reviewed the impact of another type of asynchronous telehealth format, the pre-consult exchange, which uses a similar strategy as E-consults, but with more integrated communication between the referring provider and specialist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

E-consults: an effective way to decrease clinic wait times in rheumatology

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background To evaluate the effect of E-consults on wait times and resource utilization for positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) referrals in outpatient rheumatology. Methods We conducted a pre-post study of E-consult implementation for positive ANA referrals. We retrospectively reviewed “positive ANA” referrals from 1/2015–3/2017. A statistical process control chart was created to display monthly average wait times for in-person clinic visits and to identify special cause variation. Final diagnoses, wait times and resource utilization were recorded and compared between E-consults and in-person referrals. Results There were 139 referrals for positive ANA with 126 occurring after E-consult implementation in August 2015. Forty-four percent (55/126) of referrals were E-consults; 76% did not have an in-person visit after initial electronic rheumatology recommendation. A control chart demonstrated special cause variation in the form of a shift from June 2016 – January 2017, suggesting a temporal association between decreased wait times and the implementation of E-consults. Eleven patients were diagnosed with ANA-associated rheumatic disease; the majority of patients (73%, 86/139) did not have a rheumatologic diagnosis. Overall E-consults utilized more labs than in-person visits, but this was not statistically significant. In-person visits utilized more imaging studies, which was statistically significant. Conclusion E-consults are an effective way to address positive ANA consults without significant increase in resource utilization and were temporally associated with decreased wait times for in-person visits.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

E-consults: an effective way to decrease clinic wait times in rheumatology

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A telemedicine study of more than 4,800 patients over 5years by a rheumatologist in the United States who was aided by a general physician and a nurse at a local charity hospital in northeastern Iran, with a catchment area that includes rural regions extending to the border of Afghanistan, reported that this option was becoming an 1). 42 In surgical specialties, telehealth shows promising results, although further research and funding are needed. In ear, nose and throat cases, telehealth, audiological telemedical measurements even after Cochlear implantation and examination of ear, nose, and throat are deemed feasible.…”

Section: Rheumatologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Telehealth: Is It Only for the Rural Areas? A Review of Its Wider Use

Muzammil

2020

Telehealth and Medicine Today

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Telehealth (also known as telemedicine, digital medicine) is a relatively new concept in healthcare provision, which is perceived as a useful mode of managing patients at remote locations. As this technology evolves, the need arises to explore telehealth as part of holistic care. Much literature on telehealth is available but most are specialty-based or focus on one or two aspects of care provision. This article focuses on the four main building blocks of telehealth: perception by healthcare staff, perception by patients, quality of Internet and technology, and cost effectiveness based on 2 years of published literature.

show abstract

“…This work adds to the growing body of telerheumatology knowledge [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] by providing detailed user preferences, needs, and barriers. Hence, we believe that the results of this study may help in the development of telemedicine solutions that can be integrated into the clinical routine of patients with rheumatic diseases.…”

Section: Comparison With Prior Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of telemedicine in the provision of rheumatology care (telerheumatology) could ease constraints on health care access and the timeliness of care, bridge the workforce gap, and improve access to care for underserved communities [10,11]. The effectiveness of telerheumatology could be equal or higher than a standard face-to-face approach [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance of Telerheumatology by Rheumatologists and General Practitioners in Germany: Nationwide Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

Muehlensiepen¹,

Knitza²,

Marquardt³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND The worldwide burden of musculoskeletal diseases is increasing. The number of newly registered rheumatologists has stagnated. Primary care, which takes up a key role in early detection of rheumatic disease is working at full capacity. COVID-19 and its containment impede rheumatological treatment. Telemedicine in rheumatology (telerheumatology) could support rheumatologists and general practitioners. OBJECTIVE To investigate acceptance and preferences related to the use of telerheumatology care among German rheumatologists and general practitioners. METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional, self-completed, paper-based survey on telemedicine in rheumatology care was conducted among outpatient rheumatologists and general practitioners (pre-COVID-19). RESULTS A total of 73% (349/476) of survey participants rated their knowledge of telemedicine as unsatisfactory, poor, or very poor. The majority of survey participants (358/480, 75%) answered that they do not currently use telemedicine, although 62% would like to (291/467). Barriers to the implementation of telemedicine include the purchase of technology equipment (182/292, 62%), administration (181/292, 62%) and poor reimbursement (156/292, 53%). Seventy percent (117/168) of the surveyed physicians reckoned telemedicine could be used in rheumatology. Surveyed physicians would prefer to use telemedicine to communicate directly with other physicians (370/455, 81%), than to communicate with patients (213/455, 467%). Among treatment phases, 64% of participants would choose to use telemedicine during ‘follow-up’ (291/452). Half of the participants would choose 'telecounseling' as a specific approach to improve rheumatology care (91/170, 54%). CONCLUSIONS Before COVID-19 appeared, our results indicated generally low use but high acceptance of the implementation of telerheumatology among physicians. Participants indicated that the lack of a structural framework was a barrier to the effective implementation of telerheumatology. Training courses should be introduced to address the limited knowledge of physicians in the use of telemedicine. More research into telerheumatology is required. This includes large scale RCTs, economic analyses and the exploration of the user preferences.

show abstract

Rheumatology Care Using Telemedicine

Cited by 35 publications

References 7 publications

E-consults: an effective way to decrease clinic wait times in rheumatology

E-consults: an effective way to decrease clinic wait times in rheumatology

Telehealth: Is It Only for the Rural Areas? A Review of Its Wider Use

Acceptance of Telerheumatology by Rheumatologists and General Practitioners in Germany: Nationwide Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About