ABC of Rheumatology
Chapter One
Community Rheumatology: Delivering
Care Across Boundaries
Elaine M Hay, Jackie Hill and Ade Adebajo
OVERVIEW
The importance of a multidisciplinary care pathway in the
management of musculoskeletal patients is now well recognized
globally.
The need to provide a whole-community approach to the
management of these patients is also being increasingly
recognized globally.
The shared-care monitoring of rheumatology patients on
disease-modifying drugs between primary and secondary care is
an example of a successful model using this approach.
A community-wide approach encompassing the involvement and
education of both patient and primary care physician will lead to
earlier diagnosis, speedier and more appropriate secondary care
referrals, quicker treatment and ultimately improved clinical
outcomes.
A community-wide approach will ensure that psychosocial
factors are not overlooked and that "red flags" for regional pain
syndromes are not missed.
This approach will also ensure that evidenc ... read full excerpt from ABC of Rheumatology ebook
