Thomas R. Collins

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.

Articles by Thomas R. Collins

Vaccines & Rheumatology Patients

Thomas R. Collins | June 12, 2019

Vaccines are often safe for rheumatology patients, but precautions may be needed, said Brian Schwartz, MD, at the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium…

Insight into Clinical Trials for Lupus

Thomas R. Collins | June 12, 2019

Research into lupus treatments suffered a setback after the failure of anifrolumab in clinical trials. However, during the 2019 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, Richard Furie, MD, outlined the possibilities of multiple new lupus therapies under investigation…

Experts Offer Management Tips, from Contracts to Credentials to Audits

Thomas R. Collins | April 15, 2019

CHICAGO—Medical practice consultant Owen Dahl, MBA, LFACHE, CHBC, looked out at the rheumatology practice managers and physicians, sitting around tables with white tablecloths, and asked what seemed like a simple question: “How many of you have a strategic plan?” he asked. A single hand was raised. “One? How do you know where to go tomorrow…

These Digital Tools Aren’t Just Hype, Can Actually Help Rheumatologists

Thomas R. Collins | February 18, 2019

CHICAGO—Every minute, it seems, a new digital tool is introduced in medicine. Whether it’s a new digital measuring stick, a new data-crunching system or a new app, the tech tools form an endless convoy of options. But are they worth it? Will they really help you do your job better? Will they help patients feel…

7 Smartphone Tools for Rheumatologists

Thomas R. Collins | February 18, 2019

CHICAGO—Suleman Bhana, MD, a rheumatologist at New York-based Crystal Run Healthcare, calls himself a “technology nerd,” but judging by his review of tech tools at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, you don’t have to geek out to embrace technology in your rheumatology practice. You just have to like simplicity and saving money. “We have a…

2 Medical Schools Work to Improve Rheumatology Learning

Thomas R. Collins | February 18, 2019

CHICAGO—The pre-clinical rheumatology curriculum at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, used to consist mainly of portions of a musculoskeletal course, with up to only three instructional hours, and not always with a rheumatologist in the room with students. Systemic autoimmune diseases were never fully discussed in any of the…

7 Insights into Methotrexate Administration, Drug Resistance & Toxicity

Thomas R. Collins | February 18, 2019

CHICAGO—Once methotrexate enters a cell through the reduced folate carrier (RFC), which thinks it is picking up folate, the drug is polyglutamated. It is this polyglutamate methotrexate that provides the actual clinical effect. These methotrexate polyglutamate “species” are added and lost over time, but it’s a slow process. What difference does it make whether a…

Learn to Lead: Tips for Diagnosing & Resolving Conflict

Thomas R. Collins | February 18, 2019

CHICAGO—Resolving conflict doesn’t start with clever strategizing, but with understanding the bigger picture and the factors that led to conflict in the first place, from cultural differences to resistance to change, an expert said at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in a session about how to be a better leader. “To me, what’s often missing…

Diagnosing & Managing Pulmonary & Kidney Manifestations in Lupus

Thomas R. Collins | February 17, 2019

CHICAGO—In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), most types of severe pulmonary manifestations are relatively rare, but it’s crucial they be caught because of the potentially dire consequences, said Richard Silver, MD, professor in the Rheumatology Division at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. Pulmonary Manifestations Parenchymal disease—seen in the…