ACR Convergence 2025| Video: Rheuminations on Milestones & Ageism

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Search results for: pain

U.S. Agency Issues New Guidelines to Limit Chronic Use of Opioids

Ransdell Pierson  |  

(Reuters)—Addressing a growing “epidemic” of opioid overdoses and abuse of the prescribed painkillers in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released voluntary guidelines that instruct primary care doctors to sharply deter use of the medicines for chronic pain. “Overprescribing opioids, largely for chronic pain, is a key driver of America’s…

Diagnosis Can Be Elusive for Fever of Unknown Origin

Diagnosis Can Be Elusive for Fever of Unknown Origin

Charles Radis, DO  |  

Settling into room 501 at Maine Medical Center, Mrs. N was on her way to the bathroom when she felt it coming on. One moment she was okay; the next, her chest felt damp and cold, even as her face flushed and her temperature spiked. Her forehead glistened beads of warm sweat. She felt the…

Scleritis Often Diagnosed by Ophthalmologists, But Rheumatologists Help Determine Systemic Causes

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Ophthalmologists may be more likely to initially diagnose and treat scleritis, an inflammation of the scleral tissues of the eye. However, rheumatologists need to remain aware of the condition as well: It’s commonly associated with rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Scleritis can present in the eye anteriorly or posteriorly. “Anterior scleritis can be…

2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Unknowns Persist Around Sarcoidosis Etiology, Pathogenesis, Treatment

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SAN FRANCISCO—The Kveim-Siltzbach skin test for a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was developed in 1941, then popularized in 1961. Since then, the knowledge base about the disease has not expanded much, said Kristin Highland, MD, who has dual appointments at Cleveland Clinic’s Respiratory Institute and Orthopedics and Rheumatology Institute. “We don’t know a whole lot more…

2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Genetic Links Emerge in Osteoarthritis

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SAN FRANCISCO—As researchers have delved into the genetics behind osteoarthritis (OA), genes that appear to be players in the disease have emerged, but there have also been curveballs thrown, with expectations not always matching up to the genetic realities, an expert said at the 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. The genetic risk of acquiring OA is…

Hospital for Special Surgery Focuses on Measuring, Adding Value

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Value is the ratio of quality to cost. The delivery and measurement of healthcare quality, however, is complex. “We first need to understand and define the health outcomes that are important to patients. Then we need to put into place care pathways that will lead to those outcomes, and finally we need mechanisms to measure…

How Villain Deaths in James Bond Movies Would Be Coded under ICD-10

Sterling G. West, MD, MACP, MACR  |  

Similar to other healthcare professionals, I have been required to use ICD-10 codes for the past several months. Unfortunately, I have been unable to discern any improvement in my patient care, but perhaps I have not used the codes long enough. Certainly, healthcare administrators and statisticians assure me there are several advantages of ICD-10 over…

Opinion: Role of Rheumatology Nurse Should Be Expanded

Terence W. Starz, MD, & Brandon Young, DNP, NP-C, on behalf of the ARHP Practice Committee  |  

The care of patients with rheumatic diseases has undergone a great transition, with high expectations for both patients and healthcare professionals to achieve quality outcomes for the many different disorders. Integral to this goal is the development of new care models, with evolving roles for the various care providers on the multidisciplinary team.1-3 A new…

Rheumatology Coding Corner Question: Billing for Trigger Point Injection, Office Visit

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A 35-year-old established female patient returns to the office for a follow-up visit for her diagnosis of fibromyalgia. She complains of pain, stiffness and swelling in her left and right shoulders and her neck. The pain is considerably worse in the morning. She denies any fever, cough or dyspnea. The physician performs a problem-focused exam….