Table 2 Digital tools used at the rheumatology clinic and procedures related to their use

1

Early detection of pain in the joints (Ont i lederna)

If symptoms are detected by the evidence-based online-screening survey tool, it will recommend contact with primary care.

Data from the screening tool are not electronically shared with healthcare staff at the clinic. However, patients may bring a printout of their screening results.

2

Medical record online

Patients can access their medical record online anytime by logging in with electronic identification.

Healthcare staff know which data patients can access online.

3

Personal health plan online

A documentation about what was discussed during a clinical visit and what will happen next for the patient to feel safe and not forget the things she/he needs to remember. The plan is a complement to the medical record.

Healthcare staff write the health plan using terms their patients will understand. Decisions made during the meeting are documented (including both the patient’s and caregiver’s goals), including dates for the next meeting and lab tests, current medication and advice on self-management.

4

Online scheduling of meetings

Patients book their own appointments online.

Healthcare staff open up some of their appointment slots that patients can book. The others are only bookable through staff contact or referrals.

5

Patient’s own sample handling (PEP)

The patient can make self-referrals for lab tests and access their test results online, which allows them to monitor trends over time.

A nurse activates a specific lab test-package for each patient. Lab test results appear in the electronic health record and are processed the same way as ordinary lab tests.

6

Patient’s own registration of patient reported outcome measures (PER)

Patients answer questions about their health, e.g. level of pain and quality of life, before their visit to the RC. Patients can access their results online, and compare results over time.

Information from PER is used during the consultation for a joint discussion and comparison over time. The tool is connected to the national quality registry, and healthcare staff are regularly presented with aggregated PER data during staff meetings.

7

Online messaging

Patients log in to the national digital platform 1177 and securely send inquiries through a messaging function.

Nurses reply or distribute incoming inquiries. They encourage patients to use the messaging function instead of calling about questions or concerns.

8

Digital visit

The digital visit includes preparation using PER, lab tests (PEP) and filling in a digital form with questions and space for the patients to set a meeting agenda. Then the patients choose a physical or digital visit.

Healthcare staff prepare for the digital visit based on the information provided by the patient.

9

Care close to you – video meetings application

Patients can choose to have follow-up meetings through the video meetings application.

Healthcare staff offer digital follow-up meetings.

10

Application for self-management of physical activity (tRAppen)

Patients use the tool to track and self-manage their physical activity. The application connects patients with a group of “peers” with Rheumatic disease, thereby forming support groups.

Physiotherapists inform about tRAppen for those interested. Sometimes they offer telephone support to check if the patient has begun using it or needs some more help.

11

Elsa – a self-care application

A patient self-care tool for mapping life style habits and disease activity.

Healthcare staff can motivate patients to use the self-care application.