Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are at the forefront of advances in cancer therapy and have shown promising results for progression-free survival. Checkpoint signaling pathways, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), normally regulate the immune response to promote self-tolerance and prevent tissue damage and inflammation. PD-1 is a…
More than two decades ago, Charles King, MD, was completing his final year of residency in internal medicine, fairly confident he was headed for a career in gastroenterology. Then he took a rotation in rheumatology. The rest, as they say, is history. “It’s a complicated field, and it requires a balance of left brained-ness and…
Effective management of healthcare compliance requires an office compliance plan that stays current with changing government regulations, payer requirements, office operations and technology. Many still wonder, why is a compliance program needed—if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right? This is not always the case; compliance is an essential part of practice operations, but providing…
With sadness we honor the passing of Morris Reichlin, MD. Dr. “Moe” Reichlin enjoyed a distinguished clinical, investigative, rheumatology career that spanned more than five decades. Moe was inquisitive, persistent, humble and inspiring. His achievements were many and diverse. Moe Reichlin received his BA and MD degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, where he…
As rheumatology professionals, we focus on how to achieve better outcomes for our patients: lower disease activity, remission, milder symptoms and prevention of joint damage or serious complications, such as heart disease. Another outcome is just as important: good quality of life. What can we do to engage our current patients and those at risk…
GLENDALE, ARIZ.—Arizona is a microcosm of America’s challenges in reconciling the rheumatology workforce to growing patient demand, as quantified in the ACR’s Workforce Study of 2015.1 So it was timely this year for the Phoenix Rheumatology Association to sponsor its 1st Annual Strategic Training for Rheumatology Advanced Practice Clinicians Symposium. (Note: Advanced practice clinicians [APCs]…
Save the date for the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Oct. 19–24 in Chicago. Connect with your colleagues for an unmatched educational experience featuring exceptional sessions by leading rheumatology experts. The ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting is your gateway to global rheumatology education. With more than 450 sessions—including The Great Debate—the meeting provides boundless opportunities for professional development,…
A 55-year-old female patient with pain in multiple joints is referred to the office by her primary care physician. She complains of pain in both knees and both shoulders. She rates the pain at 7 on the pain scale. Her pain is worse at night after she gets off work. Soaking in her hot tub…
Two of the ACR’s Collaborative Initiatives (COIN) programs share a goal: to educate non-rheumatologist providers about systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) symptoms to facilitate referrals, accurate diagnosis and therapy. Small Group Provider Sessions Launched in 2016, Small Group Provider Sessions provide lupus education while connecting frontline providers to a local rheumatologist in often underserved areas. The…
Honestly, I’m not sure why I bothered to listen. I was in my kitchen, early on a Saturday morning, with the radio keeping me company. It started with the news and the usual litany of tragedies, both major and minor, that comprise such programs. The news gradually faded into other programming, which I can no…