EULAR 2023—It is not enough to practice medicine by the book; rather, communication with patients and understanding their goals for patients are vital to high-quality care. At EULAR 2023, the session titled The Promise of Health Literacy in Clinical Care provided a treasure trove of insights for many clinicians. Definitions & Actions The first speaker…
Since 2006, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) has increasingly driven clinicians to focus on and improve quality. Quality measures help clinicians measure how well they treat their patients. By tracking their performance, clinicians can identify opportunities to improve patient care while meeting federal reporting requirements. Breaking Down Quality Measures The CMS has…
After intense academic classroom studies, University of Nebraska College of Medicine students in Omaha are able to put what they are learning in practice through the university’s Live Patient Experience (LPE) program, led by the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology. The LPE gives students real-life experience with patients and can serve as motivation to consider…
Arthritis Foundation Establishes Dr. Herbert S.B. Baraf Award for Excellence in Arthritis Care In October 2022 at its annual Commitment to a Cure Gala, the metropolitan Washington, D.C., chapter of the Arthritis Foundation presented its medical honoree, Herbert S.B. Baraf, MD, FACP, MACR, with the inaugural eponymous Dr. Herbert S.B. Baraf Award for Excellence in…
I am often asked by medical students, resident physicians and—especially—patients, what is rheumatology? When students ask me why I chose to be a rheumatologist, I answer that I have never been in love with pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis. In fact, I chose rheumatology because I love…
It’s easy for rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals to feel frustrated by burdensome administrative tasks, complicated insurance policies and other healthcare hurdles. Advocacy offers a way to channel those complaints into constructive action, says Belinda Birnbaum, MD.
“What are you up to this weekend?” “Flying to Guam.” “What? Why?” “I promised an entire island I’d be their doctor.” In fall 2021, Jonathon Thorp, MD, phoned a friend. A passionate internist, he was bound and determined to bring a rheumatologist to Guam. Unlike most primary care providers (PCPs), he was willing to prescribe…
In June 2022, I listened to several presentations on gout at EULAR’s European Congress of Rheumatology. Most began with data confirming a sad truth that we, as rheumatology providers, are all aware of: too many patients are taking subtherapeutic doses of urate-lowering therapy (ULT).1,2 Recommendations from the American College of Physicians in 2017 advocated for…
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, Receives the 2022 Lupus Insight Prize In June 2022, the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) awarded its Lupus Insight Prize to Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, for her discovery of the link between endogenous retroviruses and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dr. Iwasaki, who is a Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and a professor of dermatology,…
One of the newer state rheumatology organizations, the Rheumatology Association of Iowa, brings together rheumatology professionals, offering connections to fill rural care needs and advocate for policies that support patient care. The organization’s 9th annual meeting will be Feb. 24–25.