Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced rapid changes in the way that medical care is delivered worldwide. Virtual care models with remote clinics and video visits (e-visits or telemedicine) have become widespread practice overnight. The adoption of telemedicine in pediatric rheumatology has been limited historically [1] and the importance of physical examination cited as a barrier [2]. Furthermore, regulatory complexity, decreased reimbursement rates and technical limitations have hampered robust development of telemedicine. However, for many providers and families the pandemic has resulted in a need for pragmatism often in the absence of formal training or sophisticated technical support. The unique need to balance social distancing with providing ongoing care to an often immunosuppressed patient population combined with relaxation of regulatory demands has enabled rapid expansion of video visits. The American College of Rheumatology position statement on telemedicine also reflects this rapidly evolving need (https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Telemedicine-Position-Statement.pdf). This commentary describes practical creative approaches based on our experiences and discusses the potential for telemedicine to address unmet needs in the wider context of pediatric rheumatology.

Administrative and governance considerations

Guidance for telemedicine clinics is available (Table 1) albeit governance considerations differ between countries and institutions may also have specific requirements. In both the United States (USA) and European Union (EU), credentialing of providers to provide telemedicine is entrusted to the remote site where they are physically located [3, 4] and providers must be licensed to practice at the remote site and the originating site (where the patient is located) [3]. Consent is important and specific concerns relate to the lack of a ‘hands on’ in-person physical examination and more universal concerns regarding privacy and technology issues. Patient privacy and confidentiality is paramount and needs to be addressed in the technological requirements with access (at both originating site and remote sites) restricted to individuals essential to facilitate patient care. This may include an in person telepresenter, multiple virtual support staff to help coordinate after visit care, and, other specialists and members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Many electronic health record (EHR) systems have compliant telehealth modules (e.g. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (USA) and General Data Protection Regulation (EU). For circumstances in which an EHR module is not available, several commercial vendors (e.g. Zoom, Telehealth) offer ‘standalone’ privacy compliant video platforms. Issues related to data ownership and security vary in different regions of the world, depending upon whether telemedicine is considered to be a healthcare service or an information service. It is important to review the contract for services, as different vendors may also have different policies. Both standalone telemedicine platforms and EHR modules offer the ability to capture still images (photographs) or have the capacity for asynchronous communication. The billing systems used for in-person visits are also used for telemedicine visits. Limitations in the observed physical examination make time-based billing more rewarding in many circumstances, but the complexity of pediatric rheumatology medical decision make it a viable alternative in our specialty.

Table 1 Resources for Telerheumatology
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Practical considerations

Preparation is essential and includes provider related tasks, incorporating the broader MDT and ensuring that family are supported with the requisite equipment and information. We provide resources and practical tips in Table 1.

Patient selection for video visits will be influenced by individual site and situational factors. Generally speaking most established patients can be seen by video visits at least on an intermittent basis. Young patients (< 3 years) are more challenging to keep on task with a virtual joint exam, but a care-giver only visit to discuss symptoms or medication side effects is often feasible. Guidance for consideration of urgent in-person evaluations during the ongoing pandemic is available (https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Guiding-Principles-Urgent-vs-Non-Urgent-Services.pdf) and include new patient evaluations when the consulting or referring provider indicates urgency, acute flare or ongoing disease activity of a known disease.

The Virtual Exam Section requires creativity depending on the location of the family/patient, consideration of the exam sequence, technical issues and how to cue the family and child to gain optimal views (Table 1). The pGALS assessment is a validated simple basic musculoskeletal (MSK) examination [5] and a proposed variation, called Video-pGALS (V-pGALS – Table 1) includes maneuvers from pediatric regional examination of the musculoskeletal system (pREMS) [6] and suggestions from the authors. V-pGALS offers a structured approach to a cursory overview MSK exam with a focus on range of movement and symmetry. Utilizing the parent or caregiver to feel the joint in question for obvious warmth/swelling or to palpate for point of maximal tenderness can add important information. Our experience suggests that for patients with myositis or muscle complaints, the Childhood Myositis Assessment Score (CMAS) [7] is fairly easy to administer across the virtual platform.

The Actual Visit. Effective video visits require adequate clinical staff and administrative support. A call ahead of the scheduled visit helps to prepare the family regarding technology needs and to gather information (e.g. medications, allergies and recent weight). At the start of the visit, obtaining consent is important and a brief scaffolding statement helps to ease anxiety and set expectations. Documentation of discussions with the family and mechanisms to ensure follow up tasks are coordinated and carried through is critical. We provide suggested EHR Dot Phrases and a recording proforma (Table 1).

Multidisciplinary clinics. Some platforms have capability to invite multiple providers and other staff in the virtual visit room. This is useful to have individuals who may be in a different location on the visit, from a different specialty or members of the MDT (e.g. nurse, physical therapist) or other key persons (e.g., social worker, interpreter, or psychologist).

Teaching opportunities. Telehealth clinics provide novel educational opportunities (Practical Tips - Table 1). In the virtual visit, both the trainee and attending can be present simultaneously for the entirety of the visit providing bi-directional opportunity for direct observation and coaching for the trainee (history taking, physical exam, communication skills) and trainee observation of key points that the attending gathers or style of attending counselling. Published tools for assessment that work well in this context are available [8, 9]. The typical precepting model can be reproduced in the virtual setting by temporarily placing the patient and family in the virtual waiting room while the trainee and attending confer and then having the family rejoin the virtual visit with both providers in attendance. Alternatively, for many patients, the trainee can review their assessment and plan with the attending within the video visit while the family is present as a method to confirm the information gathered and demonstrate transparency in the precepting process. This option also allows for the benefit of capturing attending time spent evaluating the patient and this may be important if using time-based billing as only attending physician time can be counted.

Conclusion and future aspects

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to expand telerheumatology and address workforce challenges around the world [10, 11]. Telemedicine in rheumatology has advantages but the limitations (Table 2) need to be addressed to enable adoption into routine clinical practice. There is need to evaluate the validity and acceptability of the overall quality of care, family and provider experience as well as virtual exam techniques such as V-pGALS and CMAS. There are inherent costs of technology and provider training but once set up, the model may well be cost effective. There is huge potential for networking, education and training, especially in areas of the world with no local specialist provision. The pandemic has undoubtedly brought much health and economic distress to the world and has necessitated pragmatic solutions to clinical care. Such experience has focused minds and provided opportunity for collaboration between providers, clinicians, and families to develop a model of care utilizing technology to complement traditional health care delivery and improve access to care to more children.

Table 2 Advantages and Limitations of Telerheumatology
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