In this article, we review published literature on "telerheumatology", a term describing the use of telemedicine in rheumatology. This field has received considerable recent attention through the development of efficient digital technologies, resulting in a good level of satisfaction among patients and health care professionals. In 2020, the social distancing constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated more widespread adoption worldwide. Telerheumatology is particularly suited for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have achieved a sustained therapeutic target of remission or low disease activity. To facilitate remote consultations and meet expectations of rheumatologists and patients, international and national guidelines have recently been proposed and existing tools, such as Patient-Reported Outcomes questionnaires, have had to be digitally adapted. In addition, telerheumatology toolkits are proposed by the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR), the Association of American Medical College (AAMC), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for all learners, from medical students to practicing clinicians, encouraging the acquisition of telehealth skills and facilitating their integration into their routine clinical practice. The main benefits reported for this mode of health care are greater access to specialty care, flexibility, reduced rates of missed appointments, as well as improved patient engagement and autonomy. Limitations include the absence of physical examination. However, to implement telerheumatology effectively and widely in daily clinical practice, some barriers still need to be addressed. These include training of health care professionals, technological restrictions and reimbursement mechanisms. Despite the advantages of telerheumatology, it is not intended to replace face-to-face visits, but rather as a way to enhance access to care, service delivery and health care support for patients.

CIC 1408 Saint Etienne France

Institute of Rheumatology Department of Rheumatology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Nordic Pharma Siriusdreef 41 2132 Hoofddorp The Netherlands

Norman Collison Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences at the Botnar Research Centre NDORMS University of Oxford Windmill Road Oxford OX3 7LD UK

Public Health Expertise Département Affaires Médicales 10 boulevard de Sébastopol 75004 Paris France

Rheumatology Unit University Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research IdiPAZ Universidad Autonoma de Madrid 28046 Madrid Spain

Rheumazentrum Ostschweiz Waisenhausstr 14 9000 St Gallen Switzerland

SAINBIOSE INSERM U1059 Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne France

Service de Rhumatologie CHU Saint Etienne 42055 Saint Etienne France

Service de Rhumatologie Hôpital Cochin AP HP Centre Université Paris Cité 75014 Paris France

St Vincent's University Hospital Elm Park Dublin 4 Ireland

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