[Early diagnosis of arthritis and spondyloarthritis within the framework of integrated health care in Lower Saxony].

In September 2005, the Collaborative Arthritis Center in Hannover, the Hannover Medical School, general practitioners, rheumatologists in private practice, the League against Rheumatism in Lower Saxony (Rheuma-Liga Niedersachsen, a regional patient self-help organization), the State Pension Authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Braunschweig-Hannover) and a health insurance fund (Kaufmännische Krankenkasse), in collaboration with the Physician's Association of Lower Saxony, entered a contract for integrated health care in rheumatology in Lower Saxony. The agreement aims at patients with early arthritis or spondyloarthritis. Through close collaboration between primary health care physicians and rheumatologists, the diagnosis of arthritis or spondyloarthritis should be made soon after disease manifestation and an adequate therapy initiated. The article describes the background and contents of the contract.