Around 1.7 million Australians live with chronic, inflammatory forms of arthritis and internationally models of care involving rheumatology nurses for people with severe and inflammatory forms of arthritis are considered best practice. At the time of the project there were very few rheumatology nurses in Australia and limited recognition of rheumatology nursing as a speciality. Arthritis Australia commissioned JustHealth Consultants to assess the scope, activities and value of rheumatology nurses in the management of people with chronic inflammatory arthritis in Australia – from the perspective of patients, health care practitioners and the broader health system.
