Team care. Traditions and new trends.

Abstract

Major changes have occurred in the care of patients with rheumatic diseases over the past decades. Most of these changes have focused on new pharmacological and surgical procedures and methods. However, for different reasons, few of these methods are available to many patients around the world, and thus other forms of care are still needed. For optimal benefit to patients, all aspects of care should be organized and coordinated through team care. This leads to new trends in team care development and research, based on well established traditions and accumulated knowledge.