Telerheumatology: Not ready for prime time

摘要

Roberts et al. suggest telerheumatology as a solution to the national shortage of rheumatologists in Australia. Gray et al. extolled a similar approach to extending access to expertise in geriatric medicine. Indeed, chart review by geriatricians has contributed greatly to the quality of geriatric care. Interactive interview and discussion of diagnosis and treatment of individual patients allow significant contribution to standard of care, as participants have the necessary history taking and physical diagnosis skills. That assumption of participant skills is reasonable for the required general medicine aspects of geriatric consultations, not so much for the required rheumatologic skills.