Tele-rheumatology: An innovative approach to filling the treatment gap

Background: The shortage of rheumatologists in Myanmar makes it hard for people in rural areas to get the specialised care they need. Tele-rheumatology could help fill this gap in healthcare by offering virtual consultations with experienced specialists. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed at a private rheumatology specialist clinic in Yangon, encompassing tele-consultations from January to December 2022. Demographic and clinical information from all of the patients who went to virtual clinics were reviewed. Results: A total of 689 patients (609 females, 80 males; aged 4-83 years) received 1,271 tele-consultations. Most follow-ups happened every three to four months. People from all over Myanmar, as well as some from abroad used the service. Most of the patients had stable diseases and were benefitted from reduced travel costs and time on travel while still getting care from the same specialist. The main limitations were technical ones, like slow internet connections and lack of technical knowledge. Conclusion: Tele-rheumatology made it much easier for people with rheumatic diseases in Myanmar's under served areas to get specialist care. Even though technology wasn't perfect, it worked well as a shared-care model that improved patient satisfaction and continuity of care. Keywords: Tele-rheumatology, Tele-health, Rheumatology care, Myanmar, Shared-care model, Access to healthcare