New study shows benefits of rapid-access rheumatology clinics

People with rheumatological conditions could be diagnosed more promptly and effectively by introducing new rapid-access rheumatology services, according to a new study.Conducted by the University of Vienna in Austria, the research indicates that such clinics, offered via doctors' surgeries, could help drive improvements in the standard of care offered to these patients.The benefits of rapid-access services Currently, waiting times for initial appointments are a major obstacle to the timely provision of rheumatology care. As such, this study aimed to see whether a cooperative of surgery-based rheumatologists working as an immediate access network could address this problem by offering brief initial assessments for patients with musculoskeletal problems.Over the course of the study period, a total of 335 patients were assessed by the six cooperating practices during dedicated surgery hours, all of whom were evaluated during the initial appointment and then again six months later.Improved outcomes It was shown that 38 per cent of the patients seen had only been experiencing symptoms for three months or less, showing that the clinics were able to catch the signs of disease early in these cases.For patients with rheumatoid arthritis RA, this proportion was 43 per cent, rising even further to 70 per cent among self-referred patients. In the 325 patients available for reassessment after six months, the initially suspected diagnoses were confirmed in 88 per cent of cases.It was a...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news