Virtual consultations for PsA

Virtual doctors’ appointments have been becoming increasingly common for a while as they help to make healthcare more convenient.¹ With Covid-19 part of all of our lives now, a virtual appointment could be an ideal solution for some situations, in particular by reducing the risk of infection caused by close contact.^2,3 If you can’t get to your doctor, for whatever reason, you may not need to abandon your appointment – you might be able to have one in the comfort of your living room instead, sometimes via a video call facility like FaceTime or Skype.⁴

6 ways to make a virtual consultation work for you:

1. Find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed.

2. Make notes beforehand with anything you’d like to discuss - be specific about your concerns, symptoms and questions.

3. Ask your doctor how to securely send through pictures of your skin or swollen joints, and if possible, photos of how they might have changed.
4. Try to take pictures in bright, natural light, without makeup, and from a few different angles.
5. Be prepared to answer questions about your medical history.
6. Stick to any advice or instructions that you’re given.

If you have concerns about COVID-19 and receiving biological or immunosuppressant treatment, EUROPSO, the European umbrella organisation for psoriatic disease movements, states that this is not an at-risk group for developing severe forms of coronavirus.⁵ They ask that patients don’t make changes to treatment regimens without speaking to a healthcare professional.⁵
Please visit their website for more information.