Telemedicine: One Rheumatologist’s Experience

Consider How to Incorporate Telemedicine into Your Practice
Dr. Albert suggests rheumatologists think about the different types of encounters that would work best in a video chat setting. Although performing a physical exam is important in some patients, he says it is not required for all visits. And those patients might just be perfect candidates for telemedicine.

“Yes, the main downside is that you can’t examine the patient, physically. That is a little hard for rheumatologists to get used to,” he explains, noting well-trained nurses or “presenters” on the other end of the video connection make a difference, both in efficiency and patient satisfaction. For example, some training is needed to assist rheumatologists with physical exam maneuvers or adjusting the camera to look into the patients’ mouth.

“[Consider] follow-ups of patients with stable disease,” he says. “Many times, the majority of what you are doing is talking to the patient—and telemedicine is much better than a phone call, especially with the non-verbal communication.”

Looking to the future, Dr. Albert also imagines a nice intersection in rheumatology: advancements in fitness technology and telemedicine.

“I honestly think that in 10 years, telemedicine will be incorporated in every practice,” he says, noting he envisions a time in the not-too-distant future when payers will latch on to the benefits of telemedicine.

For now, however, he hopes all rheumatologists will take some time to get to know telemedicine a little better.

“Envision a way in which telemedicine would make your practice and your patients’ care improved,” he says. “I don’t think it is for every patient or every practice, but I think there is a substantial number of patients and practices where it could be integrated in a very productive way.”

Richard Quinn is a freelance writer in New Jersey.