Using Telehealth for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Another review compiled data from twenty studies on telemedicine in rheumatology patients (of which people with RA were the most common). On the whole, it concluded that telemedicine is effective for diagnosing and managing rheumatic diseases such as RA.

When You Can Benefit From Telehealth

Telemedicine works better in some clinical situations than in others. A telehealth appointment is likely to work particularly well in the following situations:

• You’ve previously seen this physician in-person.
• Your disease is relatively stable, and you just need a regular follow-up appointment.
• You are having symptoms of a flare similar to those you’ve experienced in the past.
• You aren’t having severe symptoms that might signal a medical emergency.

Telemedicine won’t work for all situations though. For example, it might not be feasible if any of the following apply:

• You have serious symptoms related to RA, such as heart or lung issues.
• After attempts to control a flare, your disease still hasn’t responded to treatment.
• You’ve never previously been diagnosed with RA, and the diagnosis isn’t clear.
• You need to have blood work drawn.
• You need to receive an infusion that can only be administered in an office setting. 

But note: there’s some gray area for some of these. For example, you may be able to make a telemedicine appointment with a new physician, even if you’ve never seen them before in person. Or your doctor may still be able to prescribe a new treatment and virtually walk you through using it. Starting on a biologic like Enbrel or Humira, for example, may require additional training on how to give yourself an injection. If you're not comfortable with it, your physician can point you to the right how-to materials, connect you with company's training and support team, or schedule a virtual follow-up appointment to go over administration together.

There are a few things you can do ahead of time to prepare for a successful visit.

Test Your Technology

Some people are concerned that they won’t be able to successfully connect via the technology, especially if they’ve never had a telemedicine visit before. If possible, do a practice call with someone ahead of time. Have a friend or relative talk you through it if you need to. For a video chat, you’ll need a stable, high-speed internet connection. If you are using a phone, logging onto the wi-fi usually works best.

Sometimes issues come up even if you manage to connect successfully at first. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a back-up phone number to call if you lose the connection, if you can’t get your audio to work, or if you can’t get connected in the first place.

Contact Your Health Insurance Company 

Some people are worried that their insurance won’t cover a telemedicine appointment. Fortunately, almost all insurance carriers are now covering telehealth visits, as are Medicare and Medicaid. But for reassurance, you can always contact your insurance provider and/or your doctor’s office ahead of time to check.

Telemedicine also may be an option even if you don't have insurance. There are private-pay telehealth providers (such as Teledoc) that may be able to meet your needs. You can also try calling a local doctor and see if they accept patients without insurance for telemedicine appointments.

It’s unclear what will happen with medical reimbursement in the long run. You may want to check back with your insurance company as the situation evolves.

Set Up Your Space

Another issue is making sure the environment is appropriate, in order to maximize the effectiveness of your visit. Try to find a quiet spot with good lightning to have your virtual appointment. 

Get Organized

You’ll also want to have handy any tools you might need, (such as a blood pressure cuff, if you have one), as well as a list of all the medications you are taking. Make a list of your concerns and questions ahead of time. If you are experiencing a flare, it can be useful to track your symptoms and have that information ready to share. That will help you make the most of the time with your physician.

A Word From Verywell

If you’re ready to try a telehealth appointment, give your doctor’s office a call. You may also be able to set up a telemedicine appointment with a new medical provider, even if you’ve never seen them for an in-person visit. You can find a doctor who treats RA in the same way that you normally would—from a referral from your physician or by checking with your insurance company—and then take a step towards maximizing your care.