Rheumatology pathway

Digital support for patients seeking self-help resources when they need it.

• A programme for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions who want more movement in their lives
• A training video to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to examine themselves for tender and swollen joints
• Collecting data through the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) website
• Using an app to remotely monitor rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Providing advice and guidance to patients virtually, and using technology to enable self-referral so patients can receive the support they need.

• Providing a virtual multidisciplinary service
• Supporting primary care to interpret antibody tests and refer patients

Digital solutions for early access to diagnostics and advice for primary care. This includes supporting staff with quick advice by using advanced communication tools and image sharing where helpful.

• Using remote blood monitoring to promote safety for patients on disease modifying drugs
• Supporting primary care to interpret antibody tests and refer patients

Digital solutions for reporting on diagnostics remotely. This includes shared care records and diagnostic networks that support sharing patient information.

• Providing a virtual multidisciplinary service
• Supporting primary care to interpret antibody tests and refer patients

Digital solutions to streamline digital pathways for booking appointments (most of which are virtual). These solutions also include portals and remote platforms for messaging clinical teams.

• A training video to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to examine themselves for tender and swollen joints
• Using an app to remotely monitor rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Integrating electronic patient-reported health data into electronic patient records (EPR) in paediatric rheumatology clinics
• Remote clinical management as part of standard care for rheumatology patients

Digital solutions to carry out preoperative assessments, collect postoperative clinical outcomes and for sharing prehabilitation resources with patients.

Digital solutions to enable urgent and routine referrals to secondary care. These solutions also support shared decision making for diagnostics, physiotherapy management and rehabilitation for patients.

Digital solutions to provide accurate information to help patients manage their condition after they’ve been discharged.

Digitally supporting patients who meet an agreed criteria to book a PIFU appointment.

Learn more about the rheumatology direct access service at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, the PIFU community (account required), and the Cochrane review.

• Using electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to improve patient outcomes
• Using remote blood monitoring to promote safety for patients on disease modifying drugs
• Using a national electronic platform to collect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)