How to Effectively Use Telemedicine in Patients With Rheumatological Conditions

The use of telehealth has increased drastically during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, and telehealth has proven to be beneficial to both clinicians and patients. In rheumatology care in particular, telehealth is useful given the limited number of rheumatologists (and associated wait for appointments), need for interprofessional management of rheumatology patients, and convenient modality for management of chronic conditions.

This activity will review data related to the use of telemedicine in patients with rheumatic conditions, outline steps to successfully incorporate effective telehealth into practice, and consider communication strategies to show the benefits of and prepare patients and clinicians for a telehealth visit.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the appropriate use of virtual medicine and telehealth in patients with rheumatic conditions
  • Summarize protocols for integrating virtual medicine and telehealth into day-to-day practice for patients with rheumatic conditions
  • Apply patient-centric approaches to virtual medicine and telehealth that accounts for patient preferences when managing patients with rheumatic conditions

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support


This activity is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.