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Nurse Practitioner Independence
A JAMA Viewpoint article reports on a March 2025 Nurse Practitioner (NP) Entrepreneurship Summit in Boston in March 2025 identifying barriers and opportunities to NP-owned medical practices.
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The 2025 Rheumatology Year in Review
The year 2025 presented numerous advances in rheumatology and related inflammatory and autoimmune disorders ranging from several new groundbreaking FDA approvals/indications, drug developments, game-changing guidelines and practices that will impact patient care for rheumatic diseases.
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Advanced Practitioner Biologic Prescriptions for Psoriasis
Advanced practice clinicians (APCs; nurse practitioners and physician assistants) deliver a large share of US dermatologic care, accounting for 37% of clinicians and 27% of dermatology visits by 2020. A current JAMA Dermatology reports APC drug spending trends in dermatology, with a focus on specialty medications (eg, biologics).
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Nursing Shortage Could Worsen Due to Limited Student Loans
In November, we reported on nursing groups that pushed back against a Trump administration proposal to de-list nursing as a professional degree for purposes of student borrowing. In this report, we look ahead to see what might happen as a result of the policy change.
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Rheumatoid & Inflammation Testing
Master the dos and don'ts of ordering RF, CCP (ACPA), and inflammatory markers that could transform your diagnostic accuracy.
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2024 Cardiology Income Survey - CV APP salary has incr 15% from 2019 -23, median=$123K - 50% of APP programs lead by an APP >90% work in outpt. clinics - 2/3 of prgs deploy APPs lipid & prevention management - 2 APPs for every 3 cardiologists https://t.co/gtdm5qN1qD https://t.co/cx2JUcw4U3
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US News & World Report - Top 10 jobs in the USA (growth, pay, security); the only HCP listings: #5: Physician Assistant: Median salary: $133,260; Unemployment 1.6%; 33,100 new jobs by 2034 #1: Nurse Practitioner: Median salary: $129,210; Unemployment 0.6%; 128,400 new jobs by https://t.co/5c2hVc4ooi
Geisinger. Medical Center (PA) has medical staff of nearly 1,800 and another 1,200 advanced practice providers (NPs, PAs, CRNAs, midwives). They offer specialized training (eg Advanced Practitioner Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine ) and have an Advanced Practice Nursing https://t.co/pCaPWe6niB
1 in 3 NPs and PAs switch specialties at least once in career; often without formal training in the specialty. Both "depend on MDs for mentorship and training". Hence AMA is opposed to Removing physician supervision or collaboration requirements” for nonphysician providers https://t.co/8RXL8zre0p
NJ Senate (Senate Bill No. 3560) has voted to permite Physician Assistans to enter the Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, designed to streamline PA licensing to work in multiple states https://t.co/VE1DdWuFwM https://t.co/szJzShVAaz
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QD Clinic: Tophi Tales: Management of Uncontrolled Gout Daric Mueller, PA-C and Andrew Sulich, MD, St. Clair Shores, MI, present this QD Clinic: Tophi Tales: Management of Uncontrolled Gout. This QD Clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" https://t.co/7JTbC0223I
DPC - direct primary care offices run by nurse practitioners - states that allow independent NP practices have NPs opening DPC offices, that operate under a membership model, with pts paying for access to the office services, tests, and imaging. Over 2,300 DPC offices currently
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Pearls “Steroids: Set a stop date upfront, educate on side effects, and teach "every milligram matters." Prevents dependence and eases tapering” - Barbara A. Slusher, MSW, PA-C, DFAAPA, DipACLM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comorbidity and Health Management: Tuesday Night Rheumatology Join panelists Vanessa Hill, NP-C, Lindsay Tom, PA-C, Barb Slusher, MSW, PA-C and Jack Cush, MD as they discuss comorbidity and health management in rheumatic disease. https://t.co/3KMgBW1Q4W https://t.co/4dVfKd7uy5
Lupus Guidelines 2025 Monica Richey, ANP, New York, reviews the 2025 ACR lupus guidelines as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of December. https://t.co/D1LE1H4zyi https://t.co/myPnT3ibKd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Pearls “It’s important to explain the difference between an overreactive immune system vs. a weakened immune system” - Miguel Rodriguez, ANP
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Pearls “Ensure a patient understands the weekly dosing instructions for methotrexate” - Ben Smith, DMSc, PA-C
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
