The need of a computer-based record in the management of osteoarthritis patients

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent musculoskeletal chronic disease. Its treatment represents a real challenge of nowadays medicine and requires a complex and multidisciplinary management. That implies the necessity of a real team work, as well as computer-based record of the osteoarthritis patients at least at a regional level. There has in view an efficient communication among orthopaedic surgeon, rehabilitation physician and general practitioner. Patients' accessibility to the network will assure a useful and easy patient-physician communication. The computer-based record will provide precise and complete data of clinical, investigatory and functional osteoarthritis patients' parameters. The final goal is a better quality of life in osteoarthritis population who needs conservative or surgical treatment. That reveals the importance of an interdisciplinary medical team sustained by a real electronic health record.