Referring Patients to a Rheumatologist
A primary health care provider can often provide basic care for a patient with arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, but sometimes it is necessary to refer a patient to a rheumatologist. A primary health care provider can often partner with a rheumatologist to provide the best care.
Primary health care providers should consider referring patients to a rheumatologist if:
- You diagnose or suspect an inflammatory type of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis), or to confirm a diagnosis.
- A patient needs a management plan for a type of inflammatory arthritis.
- A patient has unexpected complications such as unexplained fever, abnormal laboratory findings, or onset of unexplained symptoms (fatigue, rash, anemia, etc.).
To learn more about when to refer a patient, read the American College of Rheumatology’s Referral Guidelines Cdc-pdf[PDF-37KB]Externalpdf iconexternal icon.
Find rheumatologists near your patient in ACR’s Find a Rheumatologist databaseExternalexternal icon.
Telemedicine Resources:
Telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using technology like video chat. It is a small but rapidly growing part of health care in the United States. Telemedicine is especially important in areas where there are few health care providers or specialists like rheumatologists, such as rural areas or underserved populations. Telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease is called telerheumatology.
Learn more about telerheumatology: