Quality of care in the rheumatic diseases: current status and future directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the recent literature examining quality of care for several prevalent rheumatic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and osteoporosis, and to summarize quality measurement and improvement initiatives relevant to rheumatology in the USA.

RECENT FINDINGS

In recent years, research has identified a significant gap between ideal and actual clinical practice in the USA. Consistent with trends seen in the US healthcare system as a whole, research suggests deficits in healthcare quality for populations with rheumatic conditions. We review the growing literature on quality of care for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

SUMMARY

Existing evidence suggests suboptimal healthcare quality for four common rheumatic conditions, a finding that parallels trends in the healthcare system as a whole.