Use of the Emergency Department by Persons with Inflammatory Arthritis Conditions
Scientific study title:
Acute Care Use by Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis Conditions: Health System Impact and Solutions for Ensuring Appropriate Ambulatory Care Access
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Cheryl Barnabe
Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Arthur J.E. Child Chair in Rheumatology Research
Study Start Date:
March 2022
Study End Date:
February 2023
Why do this research?
We are doing this research to find out why people with long term inflammatory arthritis (IA) go to the emergency department when they need more care. There are certainly symptoms or conditions where it is absolutely appropriate to go to the emergency department, such as for a heart attack or broken bone. However, sometimes people go to the emergency department because they aren’t able to get an appointment with their family doctor or rheumatologist for a non-emergency concern in a timely manner.
What will we do?
1. We will look at Alberta healthcare data of persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis, (AS), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and gout to see how often they use Emergency Care and Urgent Care, and why. We will use the information we find and compare it to what we learn from talking directly to patients in Step 2.
2. We will interview patients with inflammatory arthritis and hold focus groups with them to learn about their experiences getting care in Emergency or Urgent Care departments.
3. Using the information from Steps 1 and 2 above, our team of scientists and patient partners will work with other experts to suggest changes in patient care to help patients with IA see their family doctor or rheumatologist as appropriate and avoid the emergency department. It will be better for them and the healthcare system.
Who is involved?
Claire Barber, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Research Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada
Steven Katz, Meghan Elliot, Brian Holroyd, Joanne Homik, Stephanie Keeling, Eddy Lang, Katie Lin, Nadia Luca, Patrick McLane
How do people get involved?
N/A
Funding Agency
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
