Alberta Rheumatology Learning Health System

Consider joining a Patient Advisory Group to a Learning Health System:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. It impacts approximately one in every 100 individuals. Individuals with RA experience joint pain and swelling. This can have a major impact on quality of life. If we don’t treat RA , it can cause pain and disability. RA is also associated with a higher risk of heart and lung disease, and even premature death. With early and appropriate treatment, we can improve patient outcomes, including life expectancy. We are working to measure the quality of healthcare for people with RA. One of the major challenges in measuring patient outcomes is available data. In Alberta, a provincial information system called Connect Care is being implemented. This system can help us measure how we deliver care, and patient outcomes. This will support a “learning health system”. Learning health systems use healthcare data collected in day-to-day healthcare visits. We can analyze this data to generate reports. These reports help ensure that the care provided meets the highest standards. We are looking for people living with RA to participate in a patient advisory panel. The patient advisory panel will help decide what the priorities for high quality care are for patients living with RA in Alberta.

Individuals who are eligible to participate in the advisory group must meet the following criteria:
1. Have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Reside in the province of Alberta.
3. Be over the age of 18.
Those not eligible for the study include:
1. Individuals with a diagnosis of arthritis other than rheumatoid arthritis
2. Individuals residing outside the province of Alberta
3. Individuals younger than 18 years old

Please contact Racheal Githumbi at racheal.githumbi@ucalgary.ca if you are interested in participating.