E-Health, Telemedicine Pose Challenges, Offer Benefits for Patients with Arthritis

In the field of arthritis, there has been limited evidence-based research on the use of e-health activities for patients in the management of rheumatic diseases. Diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriasis and regional musculoskeletal disorders have been studied with the focus being on quality and content of information on the Internet. There has been more work on integrating e-health into care management activities in other disciplines, especially oncology.

E-health has opened wonderful opportunities to patients and clinicians, yet provides major challenges in some ways analogous to drinking water from a fire hose. However, by understanding the mechanics and opportunities of e-health, providers can help determine how—with its effective use—the promises of greater patient engagement, satisfaction and management outcomes of overall improvement and cost efficient delivery of care can be realized.

Michelle Burda, MLS, is the education and health literacy coordinator for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region, and Health Sciences Library System at the University of Pittsburgh. Her role is to support the efforts of the National Library of Medicine to provide all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improve the public’s access to information so they can make informed decisions about their health. She is responsible for training, outreach and development of classes on NLM resources and health literacy training in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Terence Starz, MD, is a clinical professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and is in practice at Arthritis and Internal Medicine Associates–UPMC in the Western Pennsylvania area. In addition, he is involved in clinical research projects, including rheumatoid arthritis outcome studies, and has participated in classification and intervention studies in fibromyalgia and healthcare utilization in low back pain. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Region of the Arthritis Foundation and the Pennsylvania Rheumatology Society.

FYI …

Review the WHO’s National eHealth Strategy Toolkit.

Resources & Recommended Reading

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