GoTo Telemed, the nation's leading integrated telehealth ecosystem serving over 10 million patients nationwide, today announced the launch of its dedicated Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program, a comprehensive virtual care service designed to address the full spectrum of Sjögren's manifestations through evidence-based management of dry eye, dry mouth, and systemic symptoms. Delivered by a multidisciplinary network of rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, oral medicine specialists, and allied health professionals, this program brings expert, coordinated care to individuals living with this chronic autoimmune disease.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by impaired lacrimal and salivary gland function, with consequent dryness of the eyes and mouth . It is the second most common autoimmune rheumatic disease, and the range of symptoms includes fatigue, dryness, sleep disturbances, pain, and sometimes systemic involvement affecting multiple organs . Despite its prevalence, access to coordinated, multidisciplinary care remains limited, with patients often seeing multiple specialists without integrated treatment planning. GoTo Telemed's program eliminates this fragmentation by providing a unified virtual platform connecting patients with all the specialists they need.

"Living with Sjögren's means managing a complex constellation of symptoms that affect nearly every aspect of daily life—from the simple act of swallowing food to maintaining eye health and coping with profound fatigue," said a GoTo Telemed spokesperson. "Our Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program brings together rheumatologists, eye specialists, and oral health experts in a single virtual ecosystem. We provide coordinated, evidence-based care that addresses the full disease spectrum, helping patients achieve better symptom control, prevent complications, and improve their quality of life—all through the convenience of telehealth."

Comprehensive Clinical Services Across the Sjögren's Spectrum

GoTo Telemed's Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program addresses the full range of disease manifestations through specialized clinical pathways informed by current evidence and expert guidelines:

Service Component Description and Clinical Applications
Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Thorough clinical assessment using established criteria including eye symptoms (persistent troublesome dry eyes for 3+ months, frequent sensation of sand/gravel in eyes, or use of tear substitutes 3+ times daily) and mouth symptoms (dry mouth sensation daily for 3+ months or use of liquids to swallow dry food daily) . Blood tests detect abnormal antibodies including ANA, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, and rheumatoid factor .
Rheumatology Consultation Ongoing management by board-certified rheumatologists for systemic manifestations including joint inflammation (arthritis, occurring in approximately 20% of patients), fatigue (common in people with Sjögren's), skin rashes, and potential internal organ involvement .
Ophthalmology for Dry Eye Management Specialized eye care following the principle that patients with Sjögren's-related dry eye typically present with more severe disease and require aggressive, anti-inflammatory treatment approaches .
Oral Medicine for Xerostomia Management Expert care for dry mouth, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to stimulate salivary secretion and provide symptom relief .
Salivary Gland Specialty Care For patients with salivary gland swelling, pain, or duct strictures, access to specialists in sialendoscopy and other advanced procedures .
Multidisciplinary Care Coordination Seamless integration among rheumatology, ophthalmology, oral medicine, and other specialists ensuring all providers work from the same information and communicate effectively .
Evidence-Based Dry Eye Management Protocol

Sjögren's-related dry eye requires a more aggressive, anti-inflammatory treatment approach than typical dry eye due to the underlying autoimmune inflammation . GoTo Telemed's ophthalmology team implements a structured, stepwise protocol:

Treatment Level Interventions
Level 1: Lubrication and Environmental Regular use of artificial tears as needed, with preservative-free preparations recommended for patients requiring more than four applications daily . Longer-acting lubricating ointments at night. Attention to ambient humidity and environmental factors that exacerbate dryness .
Level 2: Anti-Inflammatory Therapy Short courses of topical steroids (e.g., Lotemax tapered over a month) for acute inflammation. Topical cyclosporine drops or lifitegrast for sustained anti-inflammatory effect .
Level 3: Tear Retention Punctal plugs inserted into tear ducts to help retain the patient's own tears and allow drops to stay on the ocular surface longer .
Level 4: Advanced Therapies Autologous serum tears, which contain anti-inflammatory and healing cytokines from the patient's own blood serum, to further reduce inflammation and promote epithelial healing .
Level 5: Therapeutic Contact Lenses Scleral lenses or PROSE lenses—large, hard contact lenses filled with preservative-free sterile saline that protect the eye from eyelid friction and the external environment while promoting healing .
Blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Management Evaluation and treatment of evaporative dry eye components. Warm compresses, in-office procedures (BlephEx, IPL, LipiFlow) to improve meibum quality and reduce tear evaporation . Blepharitis requires separate treatment rather than intensified ocular lubricant therapy alone .
Evidence-Based Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) Management Protocol

The program follows a comprehensive review of management strategies for xerostomia, incorporating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches :

Approach Interventions
Pharmacological Stimulation Cholinergic agents (pilocarpine and cevimeline) have shown effectiveness in stimulating salivary secretion .
Topical Therapies Saliva substitutes and mouth rinses provide temporary relief .
Non-Pharmacological Stimulation Chewing sugarless gum stimulates salivary flow. Continuous sipping of liquids throughout the day .
Avoidance Measures Medications that reduce saliva, such as decongestants, antidepressants, and antihistamines, should be avoided because they can worsen dryness .
Dental Hygiene Very careful dental hygiene and frequent dental visits to minimize tooth decay and loss. Dry mouth significantly increases caries risk .
Salivary Gland-Specific Interventions For painful, swollen glands: analgesics and warm compresses. For stones: removal by specialists. For severe cases: steroid or BOTOX injections, sialendoscopy to remove obstructions or mucus plugs .
Systemic Symptom Management

Beyond dryness, Sjögren's syndrome often involves systemic symptoms requiring rheumatologic expertise :

Symptom Management Approach
Joint Inflammation (Arthritis) Affects approximately 20% of patients. Hydroxychloroquine may be given to treat joint symptoms. Methotrexate may be given alone or in combination when antimalarials do not successfully relieve joint or muscle symptoms .
Fatigue Common in people with Sjögren's. There is no clearly effective treatment, but the program incorporates energy conservation strategies, sleep hygiene, and management of contributing factors .
Skin and Mucous Membrane Dryness Moisturizers for skin. Vaginal lubricants for dryness affecting comfort during sexual intercourse .
Severe Internal Organ Involvement For symptoms resulting from damage to internal organs, corticosteroids (such as prednisone) or rituximab may be given .
Lymphoma Surveillance Patients with Sjögren's are at increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The program includes appropriate monitoring and coordination with oncology when indicated .
Technology-Enhanced Self-Management Support

The program recognizes that patients with Sjögren's experience considerable daily work in self-managing their condition, requiring unrelenting, fluctuating, and unpredictable mental, physical, and social efforts . GoTo Telemed's platform provides:

Self-Management App Integration: Research demonstrates that smartphone apps can help deliver cognitive and behavioral techniques to support self-management in Sjögren's. A recent pilot trial of the "Sjogo" app recruited 996 participants and demonstrated the feasibility of fully remote data collection for self-management support . GoTo Telemed's platform incorporates evidence-based self-management tools recognizing that an app needs to address the complexity and overlap of symptoms .

Digital Symptom Tracking: Patients can track symptoms including dryness, fatigue, and pain over time, with data visible to their care team for proactive intervention. Research shows that remote monitoring can make patients feel personally connected to their care team .

Peer Support Connection: The program facilitates connection to virtual support communities where patients can share tips, ask questions, and learn from one another. The Sjögren's Foundation's Inspire community demonstrates the value of peer support for those living with this condition .

Patient Education Resources: Access to evidence-based information on symptom management, treatment options, and lifestyle adaptations, including guidance on vaccine timing and coordination for immunosuppressed patients .

Integration Within GoTo Telemed's Comprehensive Ecosystem

The Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program operates as a fully integrated component of GoTo Telemed's unified telehealth platform:

Unified Health Record: All rheumatology, ophthalmology, and oral medicine consultation documentation, treatment plans, and symptom tracking data are incorporated into the patient's lifetime electronic health record, accessible to all authorized providers. This ensures continuity whether the patient is managing routine care or experiencing a flare requiring multiple specialist inputs.

Seamless Specialist Coordination: The platform facilitates warm handoffs between rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, and oral medicine specialists, ensuring that dry eye management is coordinated with systemic therapy and that medication choices in one domain do not adversely affect another. Patients with Sjögren's benefit from multidisciplinary care, and this platform delivers it seamlessly .

Prescribing and Pharmacy Integration: Prescriptions for topical eye drops, oral medications (pilocarpine, cevimeline, hydroxychloroquine), and other therapies are transmitted electronically to patient-selected pharmacies, with automated refill reminders supporting adherence.

Patient Portal and Mobile Access: Patients access their personalized care plans, symptom tracking tools, educational resources, and communication tools through GoTo Telemed's secure patient portal and mobile application.

Lifespan Care Coordination: For patients balancing Sjögren's with other conditions or life stages—including pregnancy, cancer treatment, or aging—the platform coordinates with other specialists. Research highlights the importance of this coordination, such as timing vaccines appropriately for immunosuppressed patients and managing dry eye risks before surgical procedures .

Addressing Critical Gaps in Sjögren's Care

The Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program directly confronts persistent challenges in autoimmune care:

Care Fragmentation: Patients with Sjögren's typically see multiple specialists across different health systems with limited communication. GoTo Telemed's unified platform ensures all providers work from the same information and coordinate seamlessly.

Geographic Access: Rheumatology and ophthalmology subspecialists are concentrated in urban areas. Telehealth eliminates geographic barriers, connecting patients with expert providers regardless of location. Penn Medicine notes their Sjögren's Disease Program is the only major treatment center within a 100-mile radius of Philadelphia .

Diagnostic Delays: Sjögren's is frequently underdiagnosed or diagnosed after years of symptoms. The program's structured diagnostic pathways help patients get answers faster.

Self-Management Burden: Patients experience considerable daily work managing their condition . Digital tools and peer support reduce this burden and improve outcomes.

A Transformative Opportunity for Sjögren's Specialists

For rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, oral medicine specialists, and allied health professionals, GoTo Telemed's Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program offers a meaningful practice opportunity:

Focus on High-Impact, Coordinated Care: Providers apply their expertise to a complex autoimmune condition where integrated, multidisciplinary care dramatically improves patient outcomes and quality of life.

Flexible Practice Model: Clinicians maintain complete autonomy over their schedules, practicing as little or as much as desired while serving a nationwide population of patients seeking Sjögren's expertise.

Complete Practice Support: GoTo Telemed provides full malpractice insurance coverage, comprehensive billing and coding support for rheumatology and ophthalmology services, and immediate access to a growing population of patients with Sjögren's.

Professional Independence: Providers build their practice within GoTo Telemed's supportive ecosystem while maintaining clinical autonomy and professional decision-making authority.

No Administrative Burden: The platform handles all credentialing, scheduling, billing, and documentation, allowing clinicians to focus entirely on clinical care and patient relationships.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

The Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program operates within GoTo Telemed's rigorous compliance framework, aligned with professional guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and British Society for Rheumatology :

State-Specific Licensure Management: Verification of active, unrestricted licenses in all states where care is delivered, with support for interstate licensure compacts

Evidence-Based Practice Standards: Adherence to current clinical guidelines for Sjögren's diagnosis and management, including the 2025 British Society for Rheumatology guideline on management of adult and juvenile onset Sjögren disease

Quality Monitoring: Ongoing peer review, competency assessments, and patient outcome tracking ensuring maintenance of highest care standards

HIPAA-Compliant Infrastructure: Enterprise-grade encryption, access controls, and regular third-party security audits ensuring complete protection of patient health information

Availability and Partnerships

GoTo Telemed's Sjögren's Syndrome Management Program is available immediately to patients nationwide through the GoTo Telemed platform and mobile application. Patients may enroll directly or be referred by their primary care provider, rheumatologist, or other health professional.

Rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, oral medicine specialists, and other Sjögren's experts interested in joining GoTo Telemed's provider network are invited to apply through the company's credentialing portal.

GoTo Telemed is actively forming strategic partnerships with:

Rheumatology practices and academic medical centers

Ophthalmology practices specializing in dry eye and ocular surface disease

Oral medicine and dental schools

Patient advocacy organizations including the Sjögren's Foundation

Health plans and Medicare Advantage organizations

Clinical research organizations conducting Sjögren's trials

Media Contact:
GoTo Telemed Media Relations
[email protected]
(660) 628-1660
www.gototelemed.com