Four past ARP presidents mark the organization’s 60th anniversary by examining its evolution alongside significant challenges & opportunities in the field.
Insights from a Neuro-Rheumatology Clinic
Neuro-rheumatology is a fast-growing field. Better testing and imaging have increased recognition of once-infrequent diagnoses, such as neuro-sarcoidosis and amyloid beta-related angiitis. Concurrently, the rapid expansion of immunotherapy options to treat cancer and their untoward neurological side effects have increased the frequency of referrals to both neurologists and rheumatologists. Identifying and treating neurologic manifestations of…
Rheumatologists & Oculoplastic Surgeons Form Unique Partnership in Oregon
When my daughter was a second-year internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, she called me excitedly one evening. “Dad,” she reported, “I think I saw the optic nerve for the first time today with an ophthalmoscope.” I suppose I should have shared her exuberance, except that when I went to medical school, a…
2 ARP Volunteers Share Their Enriching Experiences
It may not take a village, but when it comes to providing stellar care to rheumatology and musculoskeletal patients, it definitely takes a team. To ensure all rheumatology professionals are thoroughly prepared to serve their patients’ needs in a personalized manner, there is the ARP—the Association of Rheumatology Professionals. The ARP, the interprofessional division of…
In Combined Clinic, a Rheumatologist & Dermatologist See Patients Together
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), scleroderma and lupus often require management input from both rheumatologists and dermatologists. Usually patients see the two specialists separately. Combining both in a single rheumatology/dermatology clinic appointment can improve outcomes and increase both provider and patient satisfaction. “Physicians talk about tearing down silos of care, where each specialist focuses on their part…
Coding Corner Answer: Interprofessional Consultations
Take the challenge. Answer: This is a two-part office visit scenario. The first part of the scenario illustrates the original new patient office visit, and the second portion is for the follow-up, interprofessional telephone consultation with the patient’s ophthalmologist. For the office visit … CPT: 99203 ICD-10: B30.8, M45.5, I73.00 The history was detailed, because…
Coding Corner Question: Interprofessional Consultations
A 68-year-old patient reports that her eyes have been itchy and red for approximately one month. She was treated with erythromycin gel on Jan. 10; while the itching did not stop, the redness resolved. She denies any matting and has not used any other type of eye drops. She states there has been no change…
How Rheumatologists Can Better Partner with Social Workers
When Liz Morasso, LCSW, facilitates a Families Living with Rheumatic Diseases support group at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, she empathizes with the struggles and challenges of her young patients. Ms. Morasso was only 16 years old when she was diagnosed with both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). She knows all too well…
Tips for Interdisciplinary Pain Management in Older Patients
CHICAGO—Rheumatology healthcare providers should embrace collaborative approaches to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adult patients, including models of care that involve multiple providers, patients and their caregivers. That was the message delivered by two speakers in the Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults session at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. “As…
Can Integrated Care Lead to Better Outcomes?
A typical patient with a rheumatic disease needs a multifaceted treatment approach to address comorbidities, minimize disability, promote quality of life and improve survival. To achieve these outcomes, rheumatology research has evolved from examining a single treatment to studying the best treatment approaches. Examples of these strategy trials include how to best combine pharmaceutical therapies,…