Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research
Telerheumatology, the use of telemedicine in the provision of rheumatology care, has been on the periphery of rheumatology practice for several years. However, the need for remote rheumatology service has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help prevent the spread of the virus. EULAR an...
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SAGE Publishing
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Rheumatology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2022;volume=17;issue=7;spage=394;epage=401;aulast=Yeoh |
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| author | Su Ann Yeoh Anastasia-Vasiliki Madenidou |
| author_facet | Su Ann Yeoh Anastasia-Vasiliki Madenidou |
| author_sort | Su Ann Yeoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Telerheumatology, the use of telemedicine in the provision of rheumatology care, has been on the periphery of rheumatology practice for several years. However, the need for remote rheumatology service has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help prevent the spread of the virus. EULAR and ACR published guidelines to address the rheumatological clinical needs safely. Synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine, including remote patient-monitoring systems, were used. The majority of telerheumatology studies focus on rheumatoid arthritis, which is reflective of the caseload in the rheumatology clinic. Connective tissue diseases are likely to pose more challenges for telemedicine use, given its multi-organ involvement and heterogeneity. The benefits of telemedicine include patient safety, minimizing travel time and time off work, and the evidence of patient satisfaction has supported this. On the other hand, the lack of clinical examination and privacy is a concern which patients might have about receiving telerheumatology care. Physicians are more comfortable providing telemedicine consultations for already-established patients, especially those with stable disease, and less with new patients. Rheumatology training has been disrupted, and rheumatology trainees were required to rapidly adapt their practices to telemedicine as outpatient clinics transitioned to virtual clinics. Tele-education and virtual rheumatology conferences have enabled education to be delivered in a more inclusive way. In conclusion, it is likely that hybrid models will be adopted for patient care after the pandemic. However, it is imperative that the patient is at the center of future telerheumatology service design. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d02c986560c44749129f771c73bea86 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0973-3698 0973-3701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d02c986560c44749129f771c73bea862025-08-20T03:55:12ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Rheumatology0973-36980973-37012022-01-0117739440110.4103/injr.injr_229_21Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and researchSu Ann YeohAnastasia-Vasiliki MadenidouTelerheumatology, the use of telemedicine in the provision of rheumatology care, has been on the periphery of rheumatology practice for several years. However, the need for remote rheumatology service has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help prevent the spread of the virus. EULAR and ACR published guidelines to address the rheumatological clinical needs safely. Synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine, including remote patient-monitoring systems, were used. The majority of telerheumatology studies focus on rheumatoid arthritis, which is reflective of the caseload in the rheumatology clinic. Connective tissue diseases are likely to pose more challenges for telemedicine use, given its multi-organ involvement and heterogeneity. The benefits of telemedicine include patient safety, minimizing travel time and time off work, and the evidence of patient satisfaction has supported this. On the other hand, the lack of clinical examination and privacy is a concern which patients might have about receiving telerheumatology care. Physicians are more comfortable providing telemedicine consultations for already-established patients, especially those with stable disease, and less with new patients. Rheumatology training has been disrupted, and rheumatology trainees were required to rapidly adapt their practices to telemedicine as outpatient clinics transitioned to virtual clinics. Tele-education and virtual rheumatology conferences have enabled education to be delivered in a more inclusive way. In conclusion, it is likely that hybrid models will be adopted for patient care after the pandemic. However, it is imperative that the patient is at the center of future telerheumatology service design.http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2022;volume=17;issue=7;spage=394;epage=401;aulast=Yeohcovid-19rheumatic diseasesrheumatologytelehealthtelemedicine |
| spellingShingle | Su Ann Yeoh Anastasia-Vasiliki Madenidou Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research Indian Journal of Rheumatology covid-19 rheumatic diseases rheumatology telehealth telemedicine |
| title | Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research |
| title_full | Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research |
| title_fullStr | Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research |
| title_short | Telerheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on clinical practice, education, and research |
| title_sort | telerheumatology during the covid 19 pandemic impact on clinical practice education and research |
| topic | covid-19 rheumatic diseases rheumatology telehealth telemedicine |
| url | http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2022;volume=17;issue=7;spage=394;epage=401;aulast=Yeoh |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT suannyeoh telerheumatologyduringthecovid19pandemicimpactonclinicalpracticeeducationandresearch AT anastasiavasilikimadenidou telerheumatologyduringthecovid19pandemicimpactonclinicalpracticeeducationandresearch |