In the United States, an estimated 53 million adults have arthritis. Arthritis refers to any disorder that affects the joints—with the most common types being osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Due to a nationwide shortage of rheumatologists, access to care is constrained, particularly in rural locales. To better serve Veterans, VA is instituting a National TeleRheumatology Enterprise-Wide Initiative in 2024. The program enables Veterans to connect with a rheumatologist remotely for diagnostic and follow-up appointments.
Through TeleRheumatology, Veterans can meet with their provider from home using VA Video Connect, VA’s secure video conferencing app. They can also visit a local VA facility that offers telehealth services on-site to connect over video telehealth with a VA rheumatologist.
