OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of providing telehealth consultations in rheumatology. METHODS: A prospective review of new consults from a rural area assessed by a rheumatologist in an urban area using telehealth. Patient demographics were recorded along with a self-administered questionnaire reporting assessment of the acceptability of the process. Referring physician and consultant provided open ended feedback as to relative strengths and weaknesses of telehealth versus traditional consult. A simple cost and time benefit analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: The spectrum of patients with rheumatic disease assessed was similar to a traditional consultation clinic. Patients found the overall process to be acceptable and effective. Apart from accessibility to specialist consultation, the greatest benefit was improved communication among patient, referring physician, and consultant. The process was determined to be efficient in both time and cost savings. CONCLUSION: Telehealth rheumatology consultations are feasible, acceptable, and cost/time effective and are therefore advocated for those geographic areas where traditional consultations are not readily available.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of providing telehealth consultations in rheumatology. METHODS: A prospective review of new consults from a rural area assessed by a rheumatologist in an urban area using telehealth. Patient demographics were recorded along with a self-administered questionnaire reporting assessment of the acceptability of the process. Referring physician and consultant provided open ended feedback as to relative strengths and weaknesses of telehealth versus traditional consult. A simple cost and time benefit analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: The spectrum of patients with rheumatic disease assessed was similar to a traditional consultation clinic. Patients found the overall process to be acceptable and effective. Apart from accessibility to specialist consultation, the greatest benefit was improved communication among patient, referring physician, and consultant. The process was determined to be efficient in both time and cost savings. CONCLUSION: Telehealth rheumatology consultations are feasible, acceptable, and cost/time effective and are therefore advocated for those geographic areas where traditional consultations are not readily available.
Authors: John A McDougall; Elizabeth D Ferucci; Janis Glover; Liana Fraenkel Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2017-08-22 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: Wei Tang; Sean Inzerillo; Julia Weiner; Leila Khalili; Julia Barasch; Yevgeniya Gartshteyn; Maria Dall'Era; Cynthia Aranow; Meggan Mackay; Anca Askanase Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-05-20
Authors: Mustafa Al Maini; Femi Adelowo; Jamal Al Saleh; Yousef Al Weshahi; Gerd-Rüdiger Burmester; Maurizio Cutolo; Joseph Flood; Lyn March; Heather McDonald-Blumer; Kevin Pile; Carlos Pineda; Carter Thorne; Tore K Kvien Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2014-12-14 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Jesús Tornero-Molina; Fernando Sánchez-Alonso; Manuel Fernández-Prada; María-Luisa Bris-Ochaita; Alberto Sifuentes-Giraldo; Javier Vidal-Fuentes Journal: Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed) Date: 2020-10-29