In this premiere episode, Dr. Kumar discusses what’s new at The Rheumatologist, the deliberate approach we’ve taken to a redesign and how rheumatologists can incorporate human-centered design thinking into their practices.
ACR Releases Update to Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Guideline
The ACR recently released an update on the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.1 The guideline, which includes information on the new therapies abaloparatide and romosozumab, emphasizes the importance of shared decision making by patients and clinicians, and also gives information on the importance of sequential therapy after stopping certain osteoporotic prevention therapies. Fracture Prevention…
Design Thinking & The Rheumatologist
If you’ve been a long-time reader of The Rheumatologist, you may have noticed that things look just a little different in this issue. The logo has changed, the font appears distinct, and the bylines are, for lack of a better term, aligned differently. If you’re looking at this online, the menus have changed somewhat, and…
William ‘Will’ F. Harvey, MD, MSc, FACR, Joins ACR Executive Committee as Secretary
Stepping into the role of ACR secretary, William F. Harvey, MD, MSc, FACR, will pursue member engagement and corporate relations priorities, building on his long history of volunteer work in the College.
What’s Holding Back Biomarker Innovation, & How Can We Solve It?
Think about it. Most rheumatology labs are stuck in the 1960s. Translational biomarker research looks excellent on paper and in theory. However, many barriers exist from the bench to the bedside. This article highlights this problem for the rheumatology community and proposes practical solutions. Case in Point For an example, let’s examine systemic lupus erythematosus…
Case Report: Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome
Hajdu-Cheney syndrome (HCS) is a rare connective tissue disease, with fewer than 100 cases reported worldwide.1 Hallmark features include acro-osteolysis (i.e., resorption of the distal phalanges of the hands and feet), osteoporosis, facial dysmorphisms, and craniofacial and dental abnormalities. Patients often have short stature and can have neuroanatomical deformities causing intellectual disabilities. These patients can…
Rheumatologists Provide Care to Ukrainian Cities Under Siege
In the early days of summer, soon after U.S. doctors arrived in Ukraine on a medical mission, explosions shattered the quiet of the night. Some members of the team heard it; others slept through it—tired from the long journey into Lviv. The war with Russia has passed the one-year mark, and Ukraine perseveres. Echoes of…
Rheumatologists Turn to Social Media to Educate Patients & Combat Misinformation
When Taylor Warmoth, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis and Osteoporosis Associates (AOA), Lubbock, Texas, posted her first educational video on TikTok in 2022, she anticipated a moderate response. She was surprised when her medical assistant informed her the next day that her video had received over 5,000 views, 800 comments, and her account had gained…
Make Way for the Interprofessional Rheumatology Team!
Editor’s note: Originally published on Oct. 12, 2023. Updated Feb. 28, 2024, to add fact sheets. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a leading cause of medical errors and poor care is a lack of communication between healthcare providers.1 As healthcare has evolved, the importance of holistic care has become more…
Nurse Practitioners Deliver as Part of the Rheumatology Team
The upcoming 2023 Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 12–18, was good reason for Debbie Durkee, RN, MSN, FNP-C, to reflect on the profession and its growth, her years in practice, and the importance of active participation in the ARP. Unlike many who go into the field, Ms. Durkee never felt drawn to nursing as a child,…
ACR’s Community Practice Council Supports Independent Practitioners
Forging one’s own path after completing medical training can be daunting. As I entered the final six months of my rheumatology fellowship, I was also pregnant with my first child. Having grown comfortable within academic settings, I felt the nerves of trying to find my place outside medical education. Search for Home For the best…
Break Barriers: Engaging Diverse Participants in Clinical Trials for Patients with Lupus
Misinformation, fear and not having a trusted partner in the medical sector are just a few of the barriers that prevent patients of color from being adequately represented in research and clinical trials for lupus. Experts and patient advocates addressed how to remove these barriers and more during the 2023 ACR Diversification of Clinical Trials Summit.
Why Mental Health Screening Is Essential for Patients with Psoriatic Disease
Research suggests that patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have a greater risk of depression, anxiety and, in some cases, substance abuse and dependence than the general population, yet symptoms often go unrecognized and untreated by medical professionals. Both psoriasis and PsA are associated with depression, with up to 30% of patients in either…
Ethics Forum: Mitigation Tips for Health Disparities Among Rural & Indigenous Peoples
A common case scenario in our practice in North Dakota is a woman with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate monotherapy. She is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate people and lives 90 miles from our rheumatology clinic. She currently has moderate disease activity, indicating the need for additional treatment. She does not have her own…
Infertility 101: What Every Rheumatologist Should Know
Infertility is a frequently encountered issue in medicine, seen in about 9% of men and about 11% of women of reproductive age in the U.S.1 Many rheumatologists may not be aware of the prevalence of infertility and the implications this issue may have on the care of their patients. Here, Anat Chemerinski, MD, instructor in…
Investigational Nanobody Compound Shows Promise for RA Treatment
In Japan, ozoralizumab will soon be available as a 30 mg subcutaneous auto-injection to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.