The Problem
Telehealth is efficient and effective when combined with standard care in rheumatology. According to our data, 30% of rheumatology encounters could be done by telehealth, however less than half of these encounters are scheduled as telehealth because providers have difficulty identifying patients who are appropriate for telehealth versus in-person care.
Our Solution
We have developed a predictive model that can identify future visits that are appropriate for telehealth care in rheumatology (the EASY model). We plan to implement this model to expand patients’ access to telehealth care while also enhancing the efficiency of scheduling future telehealth visits.
Anticipated Impact
Our project could expand access to telehealth by over a thousand visits each year. As a result, rheumatology patients will benefit from the convenience of telehealth, our providers will avoid mixing telehealth with in-person care, and our practice will benefit from the efficiency and cost-savings of telehealth care.
