The care of patients with rheumatic diseases requires physicians and health professionals with the experience and knowledge of complex rheumatic diseases. The collaboration of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, cognitive behavioral therapists, physical therapists, and others allows for the optimum outcomes for our patients. This month the ACR and the ARHP presidents are collaborating to describe the members of the rheumatology practice team and the roles they fill in the care of patients with rheumatic disease.
Team Rheumatology
In rheumatology, there is no such thing as a Lone Ranger. Because rheumatic diseases are often complex and affect many aspects of the patient’s life, effective management requires the coordinated efforts of a diverse group of professionals. Wikipedia defines a team as a group linked in a common purpose, and notes that a team is especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have independent subtasks. This definition certainly describes the rheumatology practice team, composed of several health and office professionals who work together to serve the patient’s needs. To better understand what each professional brings to the team, we would like to share the clinical rheumatology team responsibilities and why each team member enjoys rheumatology care.
