ORCID
- M. Perry: 0009-0009-0152-407X
Abstract
Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) is gaining momentum in the NHS, aiming to optimize outpatient care amidst rising service demands. PIFU is valuable in rheumatology, where the increasing demand for ongoing management exacerbates the patient backlog. Importantly, PIFU has demonstrated comparable safety and outcomes to traditional care in numerous studies. PIFU empowers patients, drives personalized care, increases efficiency, and has the potential to reduce waiting lists by allowing services to focus on new and acute cases. Effective PIFU implementation includes careful selection of patients, educating patients and healthcare staff, well defined operational guidelines, and robust remote monitoring. Digital solutions can enhance PIFU through patient education, active remote monitoring and streamlined escalation. Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) provide a suitable and safe metric to monitor patients remotely. Given the potential benefits, outpatient departments should consider investing in PIFU as a solution to current healthcare delivery challenges and as a means for future proofing clinical systems against increasing service demands.
DOI Link
DOI
10.1093/rap/rkae091
Publication Date
2024-08-29
Publication Title
Rheumatology Advances in Practice
Volume
8
Issue
4
Keywords
PIFU, active monitoring, digital, ePROMs, escalation, patient empowerment, patient safety, personalization, reducing backlog, remote monitoring, rheumatology
Recommended Citation
Sengupta, R., Bukhari, M., Cole, Z., Kyle, S., MacDonald, G., McKay, K., Irani, A., & Perry, M. (2024) 'Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU): how can rheumatology departments start to reap the benefits? A consensus document', Rheumatology Advances in Practice, 8(4). Available at: 10.1093/rap/rkae091
