Telemedicine for the Care of Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Experience, Insights and Future Directions from the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Telemedicine Scientific Interest Group.

PURPOSE:: The integration of telemedicine into the routine clinical care of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) presents both benefits and challenges, given the rare and complex nature of these multisystem diseases. This study presents the advantages, limitations, and future directions for telemedicine in the care of IIM from the perspective of members of the International Myositis and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) Telemedicine Scientific Interest Group.

FINDINGS:: The widespread adoption of telemedicine has facilitated increased access to specialised care for patients with IIM, offering greater convenience and flexibility while minimising travel time and enabling consistent follow-up. Nonetheless, accurate remote assessment of these complex, multisystem diseases poses a challenge and was the key concern offered by this expert group.

CONCLUSION.: Telemedicine is now a critical component of the healthcare paradigm for patients with IIM. The development of standardised, accurate tools for the remote assessment of IIM is necessary to advance patient care.