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The Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Specific Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: Results of a Consensus Process
Kara Irwin1, Candace H Feldman2, Claire E H Barber1
1University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta.
Arthritis Care & Research
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified 13 rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) to evaluate healthcare access and quality for RA patients. These indicators help monitor care and allocate resources effectively.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are key indicators of healthcare system performance.
- Identifying specific ACSCs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial for evaluating care quality and access for this patient population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine a consensus-based list of RA-specific ACSCs.
- To establish metrics for assessing healthcare access and quality in RA patient care.
Main Methods:
- A modified Delphi process involving clinical experts and RA patients.
- Systematic literature review to identify candidate conditions.
- RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method criteria for consensus building.
Main Results:
- Thirteen conditions were identified as proposed RA-specific ACSCs.
- These include RA disease activity indicators (e.g., flare, vasculitis), complications (e.g., osteoporotic fracture), and infections (e.g., septic arthritis, opportunistic infections).
Conclusions:
- A consensus was reached on 13 RA-specific ACSCs for monitoring care.
- These proposed ACSCs can inform resource allocation and identify population-level differences in care.
- Future work involves operationalizing and testing the performance of these RA-specific ACSCs.
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