During a series of interviews with patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus, issues related to medication side effects, supplement use, depression and support groups arose, as well as concerns about race and activities of daily living. The interviews gave me a better understanding of what patients with lupus wish their physicians knew. I am grateful…
Rheuminations: Why I Don’t Use the Term ‘Stakeholder’
Modern healthcare is, for better or for worse, the hybrid of many different fields—some that are expected, such as biomedical science, and others that are less well appreciated, such as astrology and palmistry. One modern contributor to healthcare is management. Nowadays, we’re inundated with all sorts of jargon from the business and policy worlds: turnover,…
Benefits & Challenges of, & Potential Solutions for, Hybrid Conferences
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific and medical conferences began to be canceled or postponed. Later, once the pandemic endured beyond the scope of weeks to months, many organizations shifted conferences to a virtual format. Now, as the federal government has ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, effective mitigation measures, including vaccination, rapid testing, masking…
3 AC&R Study Summaries: Fractures in Patients with SSc, Clinical Response in JIA, & TV & the Public Perception of Gout
Fractures in Patients with SSc By Zsuzsanna McMahan, MD, MHS Why was this study done? To minimize disability due to systemic sclerosis (SSc), it’s important to prevent and manage complications. Many SSc complications and related medications may increase the risk for osteoporosis and fracture. We sought to identify modifiable risk factors for fracture in patients…
The ACR & ARP Relaunch the Advanced Rheumatology Course
The ACR and the ARP are preparing to relaunch the Advanced Rheumatology Course (ARC) with a fresh look and an enhanced format to facilitate the learner experience. Since its debut, the ARC, formerly the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Postgraduate Rheumatology Training Program, has been a valuable resource for hundreds of nurse practitioners (NPs), physician…
Working Hard: Updates from the COTW
The ACR Education Exchange 2023 session titled Updates from the Committee on Rheumatology Training & Workforce Issues provided information on fellows-in-training scholarships, Rheumatology Research Foundation awards & more.
Mind the Gap: Working to Reduce Healthcare Disparities in Pediatric Rheumatology
Experts addressed how changes in research & clinical care can improve outcomes for children experiencing healthcare disparities during a session at the 2023 Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium.
The Importance of Health Literacy in Clinical Care
EULAR 2023—It is not enough to practice medicine by the book; rather, communication with patients and understanding their goals for patients are vital to high-quality care. At EULAR 2023, the session titled The Promise of Health Literacy in Clinical Care provided a treasure trove of insights for many clinicians. Definitions & Actions The first speaker…
Ethics Forum: Thoughts on Managing Electronic Communication with Patients
Recent proposals in the U.S. to bill for electronic communication with our patients could be seen as a refreshing but contested attempt to battle burnout rates in the present era. A fee for electronic communications between patients and clinicians also acknowledges the value of the clinician’s time and expertise. But is this ethical? Discussion Burnout…