Comparing telehealth visits and clinic visits for people with multiple sclerosis
Clinical and Economic Impact of Teleneurology vs Standard in Clinic Care for Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Trial
['FUNDING_R01'] · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · NIH-11118961
This project compares remote neurology (telehealth) visits to in-person clinic visits to see how they affect health, costs, and care experience for adults with multiple sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11118961 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Adults with multiple sclerosis will be randomly assigned to receive routine neurology care by telehealth or by standard in-clinic visits at two multidisciplinary MS centers. Researchers will follow participants over time using medical records, surveys about quality of life, work productivity, and caregiver burden, and measures of healthcare use and costs. The study will measure clinical outcomes, patient and clinician experience, and economic impact to address the four goals of healthcare: clinical care, cost, patient experience, and clinician experience. Results will compare longer-term effects of telehealth versus clinic-based care across these areas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 years and older) with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis who receive care at or can enroll through the participating MS centers are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who lack reliable internet or a suitable device, or who need hands-on in-person exams or procedures, may not experience benefit from telehealth care in this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make MS care easier to access and reduce travel, missed work, and overall costs while maintaining or improving care quality.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller programs and pilot studies at the participating centers have shown telehealth for MS is feasible and saves travel time, reduces missed work, and increases satisfaction, but long-term randomized evidence on clinical and economic impact is limited.
Where this research is happening
CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES
- CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU — CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCGINLEY, MARISA — CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- Study coordinator: MCGINLEY, MARISA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.