Improving the Life of Patients with Arthritis

In Ontario, rheumatology services are in short supply. Many people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) are traveling long distances for care and face geographical/ financial challenges in so doing. Travel burden may be decreased and satisfaction with care improved by integrating existing health care resources. A few rheumatologists in Ontario have adopted a video conferencing (VC) model for follow-up of stable IA patients using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) with Extended Role Practitioners (ERPs) doing on-site assessments. Anecdotal evidence suggests this model benefits both patient and rheumatologist. We will determine how people with stable well-controlled IA, living more than 100 km round-trip from the rheumatology clinic, perceive quality of life before, during and after VC with ERP follow-up visits compared to usual care. Disease activity, functional status, medication adherence, patient satisfaction, and barriers to care will also be measured.