Telerheumatology: Looking Beyond the Camera to Improve and Expand Access – A Narrative Review of eConsults in Rheumatology

Telerheumatology, the delivery of rheumatology care through telemedicine, goes beyond synchronous audiovisual visits. The demand for rheumatology care continues to grow, while the highest concentration of rheumatologists remains in metropolitan areas. Rheumatologists need to avail themselves of a broad armamentarium to deliver high-quality care through various methods. An important resource and communication tool is the electronic consult. This article employs a narrative review to define, understand, and apply electronic consults to improve primary care-specialty communication, decrease visit wait times, guide additional evaluation, and avoid unnecessary visits, resulting in an efficient and timely solution to the demand for rheumatology expertise.