Tracy U Nguyen-Oghalai1, Kathy Hunter1, Michael Lyon1. 1. From the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, Palo Alto, California.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize the correlation between diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits and to document patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology visits. METHODS: This quality assurance study of the use of telerheumatology evaluated new patients referred to a Veterans Affairs rheumatology clinic. Patients were seen at a community clinic by a nurse practitioner with a rheumatologist participating in the encounter via telelink. All of the patients had a second face-to-face visit with the same rheumatologist. Diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits were compared. Patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology was ascertained. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. Initially, 23 were diagnosed as having an inflammatory or rheumatic condition; 15 were subsequently confirmed at the face-to-face visits. All of the patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions were identified at the telerheumatology visits. The overall correlation was 79% between the telerheumatology and face-to-face visits. Among patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions, 66% preferred a face-to-face visit compared with 41% among those without such conditions (not significant). Immediately after the telerheumatology visit, all of the patients gave a 10 out of 10 rating for satisfaction. During the subsequent telephone survey, 30 remained highly satisfied with the telemedicine encounter (10 out of 10 rating). CONCLUSIONS: Telerheumatology at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs was well received by patients; provided an accurate diagnosis of noninflammatory, nonrheumatic conditions; and may be appropriate for screening and prioritizing patients for in-person rheumatology clinics.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize the correlation between diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits and to document patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology visits. METHODS: This quality assurance study of the use of telerheumatology evaluated new patients referred to a Veterans Affairs rheumatology clinic. Patients were seen at a community clinic by a nurse practitioner with a rheumatologist participating in the encounter via telelink. All of the patients had a second face-to-face visit with the same rheumatologist. Diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits were compared. Patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology was ascertained. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. Initially, 23 were diagnosed as having an inflammatory or rheumatic condition; 15 were subsequently confirmed at the face-to-face visits. All of the patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions were identified at the telerheumatology visits. The overall correlation was 79% between the telerheumatology and face-to-face visits. Among patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions, 66% preferred a face-to-face visit compared with 41% among those without such conditions (not significant). Immediately after the telerheumatology visit, all of the patients gave a 10 out of 10 rating for satisfaction. During the subsequent telephone survey, 30 remained highly satisfied with the telemedicine encounter (10 out of 10 rating). CONCLUSIONS: Telerheumatology at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs was well received by patients; provided an accurate diagnosis of noninflammatory, nonrheumatic conditions; and may be appropriate for screening and prioritizing patients for in-person rheumatology clinics.
Authors: Andréa Marques; Philipp Bosch; Annette de Thurah; Yvette Meissner; Louise Falzon; Chetan Mukhtyar; Johannes Wj Bijlsma; Christian Dejaco; Tanja A Stamm Journal: RMD Open Date: 2022-05
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
Authors: Annette de Thurah; Andrea Marques; Savia de Souza; Cynthia S Crowson; Elena Myasoedova Journal: Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis Date: 2022-03-17 Impact factor: 5.346