Telehealth in Rheumatology: The 2021 Arab League of Rheumatology Best Practice Guidelines

BackgroundTelehealth use is increasing and will undeniably continue to play a role beyond the COVID-19 era. Best practice guidelines (BPG) for telehealth add credibility, standardize approaches, facilitate reimbursement, and decrease liability. ObjectivesTo develop BPG for the use of Telehealth In Rheumatology in the Arab region, to identify the top barriers and facilitators of telehealth in the Arab region, and to provide rheumatologists with a practical toolkit for the implementation of telehealth. MethodsGuidelines were drafted by a core steering committee from the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR) after performing a literature search. A multidisciplinary task force (TF), including 18 rheumatologists, 2 patients, and 2 regulators from 15 Arab countries, assessed the BPG using 3 rounds of anonymous online voting by modified Delphi process. The voting on barriers and facilitators was performed through one voting round. The toolkit was developed based on available literature and discussions during the Delphi rounds. ResultsFour General Principles and twelve Statements were formulated. All statements reached >80% consensus. A teleconsultation was specifically defined for the purpose of these guidelines. The concept of choice in telehealth was highlighted, emphasizing patient confidentiality, medical information security, rheumatologists clinical judgment, and local jurisdictional regulations. The top barrier for telehealth was the concern about the quality of care. The toolkit emphasized technical aspects of teleconsultation and proposed a triage system. ConclusionsThe ArLAR BPG provides rheumatologists with a series of strategies about the most reliable, productive, and rational approaches to apply telehealth. Article SummaryO_ST_ABSStrengths and limitations of this studyC_ST_ABSO_LIBest practice guidelines (BPG) the use of Telehealth In Rheumatology in the Arab region were developed herein under the umbrella of the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR) C_LIO_LIA teleconsultation was specifically defined for the purpose of these guidelines C_LIO_LIThe concept of choice in telehealth was highlighted, emphasizing patient confidentiality, medical information security, rheumatologists clinical judgment, and local jurisdictional regulations C_LIO_LIThe top barrier for telehealth was the concern about the quality of care C_LIO_LIThe ArLAR BPG provides rheumatologists with a series of strategies about the most reliable, productive, and rational approaches to apply telehealth in the rheumatology clinic C_LI