Other Areas Where a Multidisciplinary Clinic Would Be Beneficial
What has been described here is only the beginning of the opportunities that will allow specialists to work together. Already immune checkpoint clinics have brought together oncology and rheumatology. Gastroenterology–rheumatology clinics have also been described and are a logical way to care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. A new clinic collaboration at OHSU is a rheumatology–pulmonary–cardiology clinic for our cardiac sarcoidosis patients, who we find are more numerous than we initially thought. The rheumatology and neurology departments also share cohorts of complex central nervous system lupus, neurosarcoidosis and central nervous system vasculitis cases, with patients who benefit from a coordinated approach.
As rheumatologists, we pride ourselves on treating diseases that target every organ system. Because of this, collaboration with other specialists is uniquely important to rheumatology. When done well, multidisciplinary clinics are intellectually stimulating, provide cohesive patient care and create valuable relationships with our clinical partners. The most important factor for success of these clinics is providers who respect each other and enjoy collaborative care as part of a care team. The need for thoughtful and efficient teamwork is the sum of all efforts, rather than of one individual, to break the silos of our specialties and put the patient at the center of what we do.
Julianna Desmarais, MD, is assistant professor in the Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, and co-director, OHSU Center for Interstitial Lung Disease at Oregon Health & Science University.
Marcia Friedman, MD, is assistant professor in the Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, and director of the OHSU Vasculitis Center at Oregon Health & Science University.
