Few opportunities exist for rheumatologists in community-based practice who, in addition to taking care of patients, want to test their own observations through research. Limited funding, time constraints and competition from larger academic medical centers are some of the barriers hindering clinical research in this setting. The Rheumatology Research Foundation is addressing this issue with…
Retirement is not always the closing chapter of a long career. For some rheumatologists, it’s the start of new, fulfilling storylines. “I never thought I wouldn’t practice medicine until I was physically unable to do it anymore,” says Harry Gewanter, MD, who retired from his Richmond, Va., pediatric rheumatology practice two years ago. Dr. Gewanter…
Rheumatologists often rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of suspected muscular diseases. Here, we describe a case in which unexpected findings on MRI pointed to a diagnosis rarely considered as a mimicker of rheumatologic disease. The Case A 19-year-old man of Middle Eastern descent was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of…
Calciphylaxis is a poorly understood and life-threatening ischemic vasculopathy characterized by calcification of the small- and medium-size arteries in the skin, subcutaneous tissue and internal organs, which leads to thrombosis, tissue necrosis and painful skin ulcerations that won’t heal. The disease has a 50–80% mortality rate. Although affected patients typically have end-stage renal disease (ESRD)…
Eosinophilia is usually defined as an eosinophil count of more than 500/microL in peripheral blood.1 An eosinophil count of more than 1,500 is referred to as hypereosinophilia (HE); hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is defined as HE associated with organ dysfunction attributable to eosinophilia.2 Eosinophilia can occur due to infectious, malignancy, autoimmune or allergic etiologies. However, a…
Last month I expressed my thoughts on the valuable and varied opportunities the ACR offers for professional and personal growth. Such engagement not only provides an opportunity to connect with your rheumatology colleagues, but also to have a positive impact on patients, supporters and all consumers of healthcare. ACR and ARHP members from every aspect…
It started with an inhaler. Like many of you, I am a rheumatologist. And like you, I see some patients more often their own primary care provider. This is so often the case that I have gradually devolved into their backup, all-purpose doctor. I am the doc they notify when they get hospitalized for pneumonia…
With a steadily diversifying U.S. population, the professional and societal consequences of health disparities continue to grow. Rheumatologists may need to innovate to prevent these disparities for their patients. A new ACR program will focus on member-led projects that reduce health racial and ethnic disparities for patients with rheumatic disease…
Patients with rheumatic disease require a team of specialists working together to meet the patient’s needs. Social workers can advocate for these patients and play a variety of other roles to help them manage their disease…
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) makes recommendations to Congress on Medicare policy including physician payments and patient access issues. These recommendations can directly impact rheumatology care coverage and rheumatologist reimbursement. Representatives of the ACR and partners recently met with new MedPAC Executive Director James E. Mathews, PhD, to discuss appropriate recognition of rheumatology care…