Video: Every Case Tells a Story| Webinar: ACR/CHEST ILD Guidelines in Practice

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

ACR/EULAR Response Criteria Approved for Adult, Juvenile Myositis

  |  

The ACR and EULAR have approved and released response criteria for adult and juvenile myositis, the result of a collaborative initiative that involved the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) and the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO). The decade-long collaboration was consensus driven, examined multiple clinical data sets and natural history studies,…

Ohio Rheumatologists Advocate for Step Therapy Reform & More

  |  

On a chilly March morning in Lancaster, Ohio, rheumatologist Stephanie Ott, MD, shared the Ohio Association of Rheumatology’s (OAR) current advocacy efforts with ACR@Work between walking her three dogs and driving to her clinic to see patients—some of whom travel from as far away as West Virginia. “This year, we are really focusing on legislation…

New Genetic Loci Identified, Epigenome Explored in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

  |  

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Researchers have identified nine new genetic loci linked with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), along with evidence that at least some of them likely play a functional role, such as cytokine signaling and T cell expression. The findings were presented in an abstract session at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, which also included a presentation…

Fellows Forum Case Report: Neuromyelitis Optica

Atul Kapila, MD, Tayseer Haroun, MBBS, & Jayanth Doss, MD  |  

Case Presentation The patient was a 42-year-old African American female diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on the findings of polyarthritis, malar and discoid rash, fatigue, positive double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) ribonucleoprotein and Smith antibodies, and low serum complement levels. Her SLE had been well controlled on hydroxychloroquine 400 mg daily, oral methotrexate 25 mg…

Straightforward Approach Can Help Rheumatology Health Professionals Engage with Fibromyalgia Patients

Terence Starz, MD, on behalf of the ARHP Practice Committee  |  

“I have pain all over my body” is a challenging response after you’ve asked a new patient what brings them in for their visit. You immediately suspect that this patient has fibromyalgia. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the U.S. is 5 million people, and it is among the most common conditions in many rheumatology practices….

Rheumatologists, Social Workers Collaborate to Help Patients with Lupus

  |  

At the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), New York, rheumatologists and social workers have found that an interdisciplinary approach to care for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients improves the overall patient experience. “Our goal is to help patients navigate the complex healthcare system,” says Jillian Rose, LCSW, MPH, assistant director, Community Engagement, Diversity & Research….

The reasons rheumatologists choose hospital or academic employment vary. It comes down to what they value.

Rheumatologists Weigh Pros, Cons of Working in Academia

  |  

Some rheumatologists find that an option other than working in a private practice makes the most sense for them. The reasons rheumatologists choose hospital or academic employment vary. Individual Choice When Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, MEd, associate professor of medicine and rheumatology training program director, Duke University, Durham, N.C., was finishing her fellowship in 2003, she…

seanbear/shutterstock.com

Volunteers Wanted to Join the ACR’s Committees, Board of Directors, Research Foundation

Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD  |  

In 1974, President Nixon established a week in April to recognize the importance of volunteering. National Volunteer Week is scheduled for April 23–29 this year. At the College, we like to acknowledge and thank our volunteers year round. The mission of the College cannot be achieved without the time, effort, talent and dedication of our…

Diagnosis of Acute Gouty Arthritis Obscured by Anchoring Bias

Diagnosis of Acute Gouty Arthritis Obscured by Anchoring Bias

Sneha Patel, MD, Monica Mohile, MD, & Arundathi Jayatilleke, MD  |  

A 56-year-old African American man presents to the emergency department with polyarthralgias and a fever of 103ºF. One month prior to admission, he presented with right knee pain and swelling. Blood cultures grew S. epidermidis. He was treated for presumed septic arthritis complicated by MSSE bacteremia. He was treated with meropenem and a prolonged course…

How to Bill Medicare Patients for Non-Covered Services

  |  

What do you do when you are presented with a patient who needs treatment but the patient’s insurance company will not pay for the services? Can you provide the services anyway? Who will pay for them? How do you collect payment for such services? If the patient consents to receive the services in spite of…