Improving Access to MS Care Through Technology

Abstract

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) experience many barriers to accessing multiple sclerosis (MS) care that lead to diagnostic delays, delayed treatment, interrupted care, and significant economic burden. These barriers include limited geographic healthcare resources, financial burden, physical limitations, and inequities within the healthcare system. Telemedicine has the potential to reduce these barriers and improve access to care. The lack of geographic proximity to neurologists and MS Centers can be overcome by leveraging telemedicine which has been shown to significantly reduce travel burden. Furthermore, cross-sectional studies have shown telemedicine reduces indirect costs for PwMS including significantly lower mean costs in parking, gas, tolls, and wages lost compared to in-person visits. Although there has been evidence that telemedicine can reduce many barriers there is still a need to demonstrate the impact of longitudinal telemedicine care and its direct impact on access to MS care.