The 2017 recommendations are updated to reflect changes in medical literature, as well as to include newly approved drugs.
License to Cure: Greed, Politics & Medical Licensure in the U.S.
William Osler, MD, had an idea. Many institutions lay claim to the legacy of Osler, and by the time he arrived at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889 to become the first physician in chief of the institution, he was already widely acknowledged for his clinical acumen. He now wanted to spread that clinical acumen around.1…
The Rheumatology Research Foundation Invests in Rheumatology Professionals
The mission of the Rheumatology Research Foundation, a division of the ACR, is to advance research and training to improve the health of patients living with rheumatic disease. It supports career advancement, mentorship, professional development and education of professionals working in the disciplines essential to these patients.1 “The Foundation understands that the support of Association…
Rheumatic Disease Report Card 2022 Released: No A’s Given Overall; Oklahoma Ranks Most Improved
The 2022 Rheumatic Disease Report Card found that many states can improve access to care, affordability & activity for their residents living with rheumatic diseases.
Florida Law Puts Drug Pricing by Pharmacy Benefit Managers Under a Microscope Once Again
As of July 1, a Florida bill increases oversight of pharmacy benefit managers and offers some protection for pharmacies. However, the legislation has limited effects on patients and providers, highlighting the need for additional reform.
Updated Guideline Introduces Recommendations for Prevention & Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
ATLANTA—The ACR released a summary of its updated guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis in September. Many patients take glucocorticoids for a variety of inflammatory conditions, and anyone who is taking glucocorticoid medications and has other risk factors for osteoporosis increases their risk of developing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. New osteoporosis medications and new…
ACR Praises House for Passing Prior Authorization Reform Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Sept. 14, the ACR praised the House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing bipartisan legislation intended to make it easier for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to access the timely care they need. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173) passed the House on a voice vote. If enacted, the bill will create…
A Case of Nodular Rash & Painful Joints
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis, predominantly involving medium-sized arteries, that causes systemic disease, and, less commonly, cutaneous-limited disease. The population prevalence for PAN ranges from 2 to 33 per million.1-3 Estimates vary due to the increased recognition and classification of other forms of vasculitides over time and variation in the regional prevalence of…
Sonographic Diagnosis of Knuckle Pads
The Case A 56-year-old white woman was evaluated for a one-year history of painless bumps on the dorsal aspect of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of both hands and suspected flexor tenosynovitis in her palms. On examination, small cystic nodules without erythema or tenderness were present on the dorsal aspect of several PIP joints (see…
Lessons from Master Clinicians: An Interview with Dr. Gary Hoffman
Rheumatologists who are outstanding clinicians, provide consistently exceptional care to patients and serve as role models for colleagues and trainees are in the spotlight in our Lessons from a Master Clinician series. Here, we offer insights from clinicians who have achieved a level of distinction in the field of rheumatology. Gary Hoffman, MD, MS, MACR,…
An Update from the RheumPAC Chair on the 117th Congress
RheumPAC has been working to ensure that individual legislators understand what rheumatology practices and patients face when it comes to delivering high quality care to those with rheumatic diseases and advocating for policies to support affordability of care, workforce expansion, prior authorization reform and fair reimbursement levels.
Image Case Report: Milk of Urate Bulla
A 60-year-old Black woman with a history of stage 3 chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension presented with a 12-month history of asymmetric polyarthritis of the wrists, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and knee joints. The review of systems was unremarkable. She denied oral ulcers, rashes, alopecia, or a history of…
Vasculitis Guidelines in Focus, Part 6: Giant Cell Arteritis
In 2021, the ACR—in concert with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF)—released four new vasculitis guidelines, one each on: 1) anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, 2) giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis, 3) polyarteritis nodosa and 4) Kawasaki disease. The guideline development process is complex. For the vasculitis guidelines, this process kicked off in June…
An Introduction to Mentoring
High-quality mentoring is perhaps the most recognized ingredient to a successful career, one that remains little understood. Here, we present a brief overview of the elements of successful mentor-mentee relationships for clinicians and scientists in rheumatology. We discuss the importance of mentorship and characteristics of good mentoring, and offer our personal reflections as both mentees…
California Rheumatology Alliance Keeps Patients, Providers at the Fore
Throughout the pandemic, the CRA has continued to support rheumatology workforce development initiatives and advocate for state legislation to ensure patient access to rheumatology care. It recently welcomed members back to an in-person conference after a two-year hiatus.
Updates on PsA: Insights into the Latest Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments & Research
Ana-Maria Orbai, MD, MHS, addressed the latest research into psoriatic arthritis (PsA), including a comprehensive overview of the latest FDA-approved treatments and their implications for clinical practice.
A Vessel for Knowledge: The Latest Research & Management Updates for Vasculitis
Brendan Antiochos, MD, provided a timely update on research and treatments related to vasculitis, addressing treatments for ANCA-associated vasculitis and giant cell arteritis, COVID-19 vaccination and more.
A Clear Vision: Understanding the Connection Between Ophthalmology & Rheumatic Disease
Meghan Berkenstock, MD, summarized key clinical pearls related to uveitis and rheumatic diseases during a session of the 18th Annual Advances in the Diagnosis & Treatment of the Rheumatic Diseases symposium.
What’s New in SLE: Pathogenesis & Novel Therapies
Thomas Dörner, MD, reviewed the current state of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) management, providing updates on novel therapies and insights into the pathogenesis of SLE.
A Young Disease: A Holistic Approach to the Treatment of Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Although progress has been made in recent years, rheumatologists still have a lot of questions regarding best management practices for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). During a session of EULAR 2022, Ricard Cervera, MD, PhD, described a holistic approach.
How to Tackle Due Diligence in Advance of Selling Your Practice
Healthcare businesses are a hot commodity in the market today. A buyer may even be interested in your healthcare practice right now. Whether or not you’ve gone down the road of selling your practice before, the process can be stressful and time consuming. A lot of the time and stress centers around one aspect of…
Phase 2 Study Shows Promising Results for Deucravacitinib in PsA
Research has demonstrated that deucravacitinib is significantly more efficacious than placebo for achieving minimal disease activity in patients with active PsA after 16 weeks of treatment.
Rheum After 5: Dr. Glenn Parris, Novelist
Sometimes, late at night, after his wife Carla has gone to bed, Glenn Parris, MD, rheumatologist, founder and CEO of Parris and Associates Rheumatology, Lawrenceville, Ga., sneaks into his home office to continue working on one of his novels. “My wife thinks I’m asleep, but I use the time to compose my thoughts and write…