The Role of Patient Education in Arthritis Management: The Utility of Technology.

Technologies continue to shape the path of medical treatment. Orthopedic surgeons benefit from becoming more aware of how twenty-first century information technology (IT) can benefit patients. The percentage of orthopedic patients utilizing IT resources is increasing, and new IT tools are becoming utilized. These include disease-specific applications. This article highlights the opportunity for developing IT tools applicable to the growing population of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and presents a potential solution that can facilitate the way OA education and treatment are delivered, and thereby maximize efficiency for the health care system, the physician, and the patient.