The ARHP Helps Rheumatology Professionals Avoid Information Overload

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In a world where some information is good, more information is better and information overload is a way of life, Carole Dodge, BS, OTR, CHT—a practicing occupational therapist at the University of Michigan—considers the ARHP her professional block and tackle. “ARHP helps me sift through a lot of information and get it to a digestible point,” says Ms. Dodge of ARHP’s ability to provide her with tools, resources content and connections directly applicable to her role.

With more than 37 years as a practicing OT, Ms. Dodge always knew rheumatology was a good fit for her skill set. And in this time, she has seen many changes in rheumatology and healthcare as a whole. From biologics hitting the market to the increased focused on collaborative medicine, Ms. Dodge has looked to the ARHP to keep up with the changes that affect her patients and her profession.

“Our current healthcare environment moves quickly, and constant change, improvements and information are inevitable. ARHP seems to stay one step ahead of the questions I’m going to get each day in my clinics and is able to get just the right amount of information in my hands to better prepare me for patient questions, collaborating with colleagues and understanding the challenges facing the rheumatology community,” she explains.

Advocacy, Education & Networking

One area that greatly affects Ms. Dodge’s patients and profession is advocacy. “This isn’t something we learn about in school,” she says. “The information from—and decisions made on—Capitol Hill have a direct effect on my patients, career and practice, and it would be nearly impossible to keep up without ARHP doing the heavy lifting and putting the most important and applicable information in front of me so I can be an impactful advocate on behalf of rheumatology.”

Another area in which Ms. Dodge turns to the ARHP is education, and the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting is a great way for her to stay on top of the best in rheumatology science and practice. “I’ve attended the Annual Meeting for years, and ARHP consistently provides education that I can apply to my daily practice,” she says. As the largest gathering of rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in the U.S. each year, the Annual Meeting is a place for researchers and clinicians to share breakthroughs from the bench to bedside while increasing their professional networks.

To that end, Ms. Dodge is quick to note that the ARHP is a consistent reminder that “people are resources.”