Finally, I want to foster a closer working relationship between the Foundation and the ARP, and continue joint efforts, such as the very successful Mentored NP/PA Award grant.
TR: What goals do you see beyond 2022?
Ms. Slusher: One thing that is very important is better integration of the healthcare team. We need to do more to grow the workforce, not only from the rheumatologist’s perspective, but also looking at services that pharmacists can provide in a rheumatology practice, what kinds of patients NPs and PAs can see and the roles that physical therapists or occupational therapists may play in a rheumatology practice.
That integration can extend beyond rheumatology as well, really to all members of the healthcare team. Telemedicine is going to play a big role in that process. We dragged our feet for 10 to 15 years in implementing telemedicine, but its time has come. For instance, we have a dearth of pediatric rheumatologists and of rheumatologists in rural areas. Telemedicine should be able to help us fill some of those gaps.
One other change I would like to see—perhaps because of my social work background—is more effort dedicated to patient education, particularly regarding prevention. Even in my own practice as a PA, I don’t spend much time talking to patients about preventive steps they can take, such as nutrition and lifestyle choices, and the impact those can have on their overall health and disease outcomes. I think the whole medical field, including we in rheumatology, need to look at patients from a more holistic perspective.
TR: On a lighter note, is there anything you’d like to share about yourself?
Ms. Slusher: I was raised on a small farm in Hanover, Md.—in fact, my dad still has a farm—and I have come to love … dairy goats! It’s been kind of a thing over the years. For instance, when I did some teaching in the PA program at UTMB, the students found out about it and would sometimes randomly include a photo of a goat in their presentations. It got very funny. The goats may be a bit weird, but like I said, I’m an eclectic individual.
Leslie Mertz, PhD, is a freelance science journalist based in northern Michigan.
