Can trained primary care doctors manage arthritis as well as specialists?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious condition that causes joint inflammation and pain, and it needs prompt, skilled treatment to prevent permanent damage. This trial is testing whether primary care doctors in a rural area who have completed special training in RA management can care for RA patients just as effectively as rheumatology specialists. Half the participants will receive care from their primary care doctor (who has completed the training), and half will see a rheumatology specialist as usual.

Many rural areas don't have enough rheumatology specialists, which means people with RA have to wait a long time for care or travel long distances to get it. By training primary care doctors to manage RA well, this trial hopes to improve access to timely, quality treatment and free up specialists to help patients with more complex rheumatology conditions.