Tom Collins is a freelance writer in South Florida, who has written about medical topics from nasty infections to ethical dilemmas, runaway tumors to tornado-chasing doctors. He travels the globe gathering conference health news and lives in West Palm Beach.
A new Medscape survey found that rheumatology has the second-highest burnout level among the 29 specialties included, with 50% of the rheumatology respondents saying they’re experiencing “burnout.” To which some rheumatologists are responding: Really? “I was quite surprised by this,” says Beth Jonas, MD, chief of the Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Division at the University… [Read More]
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—Research has shown time and again the benefits and low risk of physical activity for people with rheumatic diseases, but only a third or less of patients meet guidelines for this activity, Patricia Katz, PhD, professor of medicine and health policy at the University of California, San Francisco, said in the ARP Distinguished… [Read More]
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and mast cell activation syndrome were the topics of the day in the ever-popular Curbside Consults session in November 2020. POTS An anxious woman with a chronic headache and constant myofascial pain in the neck and upper back, assorted gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic severe fatigue,… [Read More]
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—With the inevitable decline in organ function that comes with age, and the likelihood that older patients (i.e., generally defined as older than 60 or 70, depending on the study) are on more than one medication due to multiple comorbidities, therapeutic drug treatment for older patients requires persistent vigilance and know-how, two experts… [Read More]
From understanding terminology, to collecting relevant data, to shaping a culture of awareness and inclusivity, clinicians can take many steps to improve the healthcare experience and outcomes for LGBTQ+ patients.... [Read More]
Experts discussed the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on patients and clinicians, with many patients in need of mental health support and others in need of rehabilitation.... [Read More]
Speakers at ACR Convergence 2020 offered a range of tips to navigate the competitive environment of research funding, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, diversifying funding sources and staying determined in the face of disappointment.... [Read More]
ACR Convergence panelists discussed how to monitor SSc-ILD patients for ILD severity & the brightening prospects for therapy.... [Read More]
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—In her ARP keynote address on Friday, Nov. 6, Empowering Patients to Make an Impact on the Future of Healthcare, Jen Horonjeff, PhD, described a study in which researchers gathered data on pain and activity level among arthritis patients. In her view, the study provided a cautionary tale. Researchers expected the study subjects… [Read More]
The Global Rheumatology Alliance is an important tool for assessing COVID-19 risk, & the ACR COVID-19 Task Force provides treatment guidance to rheumatology practitioners.... [Read More]