As president of the Georgia Society of Rheumatology (GSR), Wambui Machua, MD, a rheumatologist with Piedmont Physicians Rheumatology, Atlanta, oversees a membership of 90 rheumatologists, six orthopedists, two nurses, 85 physician assistants and 27 fellows and residents. According to Dr. Machua, the GSR, founded in 1967, continues to pursue its original mission of providing educational…
With telemedicine platforms and Zoom calls, technology is playing a large role in how rheumatology fellows are seeing patients and participating in lectures and conferences…
As state rheumatology societies go, the Nebraska Rheumatology Society (NRS) is one of the new kids on the block. Established two years ago, the NRS hopes to involve all 27 rheumatologists across the state. Marcus Snow, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, says the state’s rheumatologists are spread across…
Telerheumatology—which refers to the application of electronic communication technology to clinical encounters from a distance between rheumatologists and their patients—has the potential to extend a workforce projected to experience significant shortfalls, making it more accessible to more patients. Multiple barriers that stood in the way of taking full advantage of this promise are now down—at…
ACR volunteer leaders and staff will convene more than 100 meetings via teleconference with Congressional leaders on May 22, addressing rheumatology provider solvency and patient access to care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Humans may fear change as a general rule, but we’re adaptable when we need to be. In this era of COVID-19 and social distancing, medical practices and payers are adapting to an increased use of telemedicine, which enables providers to see their patients without being in a room with them. To cope, the Centers for…
In this time of COVID-19, you may be considering ways to deliver routine rheumatologic care via some form of telemedicine. Here are some of the legal considerations.
The ACR’s Volunteers to Expand Rheumatology Access (VERA) initiative recently launched a new webpage to provide helpful information to rheumatology healthcare providers interested in volunteering to care for uninsured and underinsured patients with rheumatic disease. This resource, VolunteerRheumCare.org, provides answers to frequently asked questions related to providing free care, as well as links to organizations…
Having completed her term as ARP president, Hazel L. Breland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, CLA, has stepped into a new role as chair of the ARP’s Membership and Nominations Committee (https://www.rheumatology.org/Rheumatology-Professionals). Dr. Breland is associate professor of occupational therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, where she teaches graduate students and serves as…
ATLANTA—With growing demand for access to rheumatologists in rural areas, a shortage in the number of rheumatologists and the ability to use technology as a bridge to patients in remote areas, telemedicine seems like a smart option. And it certainly can be, experts said at a 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting session in November. But a…