๐Ÿ›๏ธ Verified NIH Record โ€ข Updated 2026-01-27

VIRtual Versus UsuAL In-office Care for Multiple Sclerosis (VIRTUAL-MS) (NCT05660187)

Virtual Versus Usual In-office Care for Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Trial (VIRTUAL-MS)

๐Ÿ”ต Active, Not Recruiting Observational / Diagnostic ๐Ÿ“‹ Clinical Research Protocol Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic

๐Ÿฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

The current standard of outpatient MS care depends on in-clinic visits, but MS patients face many barriers to accessing this care. These barriers include those resulting from the disease itself, such as physical limitations, driving restrictions and financial limitations, and they are further compounded by an overall shortage of neurologists. Furthermore, MS care has a significant economic impact, with the estimated indirect and direct costs for treating MS in the US estimated to be \> $85.4 billion. Therefore, there is a need to improve access to and reduce cost of MS care, and telehealth is a potential solution. The VIRTUAL-MS study has been designed to evaluate the impact of telehealth care on MS clinical outcomes, costs, and satisfaction compared to in-person care. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate facilitators and barriers to telehealth use to inform widespread implementation.

Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.

Location: University of California San Francisco โ€” San Francisco, California

Age range: 18 Years

๐Ÿงช Interventions in This Study

  • Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care Delivery via telehealth (OTHER)
  • Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care Delivery via standard in clinic visits (OTHER)

๐Ÿ“‹ "Do I Qualify?" โ€” 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Full eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria โ†—

๐Ÿ“ All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)

  • University of California San Francisco โ€” San Francisco, California
  • Cleveland Clinic โ€” Cleveland, Ohio

๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

๐Ÿ’ก How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Review the official NIH record below to find the coordinating site.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
๐Ÿ›๏ธ View Official NIH Record โ†—