All News

hospital,surgery

Best of 2025: Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients

Jack Cush, MD

More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the setting of DMARDs use. A scoping review looked at numerous clinical practice guidelines/recommendations for the perioperative management of DMARDs and found inconsistencies and low quality evidence, with great reliance on conditional (expert opinion) recommendations.

Read Article

APP Pearls “Ensure a patient understands the weekly dosing instructions for methotrexate” - Ben Smith, DMSc, PA-C

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “When I’m explaining treatment options, I say “hey you are the captain of this ship, I’m your co-captain. I help to guide you along this journey… (I can help you) avoid that Hurricane.” - April Woodrow, APRN, ANP-BC

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “Steroids are not a long-term plan; AND One visit cannot fix everything” - Claudia Rivera-Salas, NP

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “Get to know your patients and any barriers they have that may impact their healthcare” - Natalie Lane, FNP-C

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “When seeing a new patient, never assume that their preconceived or prior diagnosis is the only rheumatology condition that they have” - Lindsay Tom, PA-C

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “Point out to every patient with gout that poorly controlled gout will increase their risk of CV events and mortality” - Emma Bavage, NP

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Algorithm for the treatment of calcinosis #calcinosis #ACR24 https://t.co/NZhP7Enzrp https://t.co/I0HLtYjzgb

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Intro to ILD (Part I): the essentials 🫁 Definition & basics 🔬 Key pathology patterns 🧑⚕️ Clinical approach 📋 What rheums need to know ⬇️ Download & learn more: https://t.co/Fn76PiGsPl Created by @MithuRheum | via @RheumNow for our Rheum to Breathe: ILD Campaign https://t.co/JpyE3T7Atj

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “Do not order a test if you do not know how to interpret the results whether normal or abnormal” - Madison Chastain, CRNP

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

APP Pearls “Never stop learning—rheumatology is full of surprises” - Kayla Carlucci, FNP-BC

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Three Things to Know About Hiring, Onboarding, and Training APPs As the utilization of APPs (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in rheumatology becomes more prevalent, here are three things to consider if you are thinking about adding an APP to your practice: Read https://t.co/24RVd09vcK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Controversies and Misconceptions In this Tuesday Night Rheumatology, panelists discuss a range of topics, including APP roles and impact; models of care; independence; seeing new patients and complex cases; and more. Panelists: Daric A. Mueller, PA-C; Lisa Carnago, PhD, https://t.co/t2PssfUNoV
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Pearls “You must assess sleep and mood- without this, even if you control all inflammation, you will not control pain and fatigue!” - Christine Stamatos, NP, DNP, RN

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Tricks of the Trade – Clinic Advice from APPs December 2025 is focused on advanced practice providers, their impact, education and priorities. In seeking and soliciting the help and advice of leaders in the rheumatology APP world, I have been impressed by APP pride, dedication https://t.co/boyjytkUyq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Hidden in Plain Sight: IBD As a PA with six years of experience in rheumatology and a background in gastroenterology, today I'm discussing the clinical overlap between inflammatory arthritis—particularly psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthropathies—and inflammatory bowel https://t.co/Aatc4jkbpH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) https://t.co/xERp8kev1T https://t.co/e3psPC7HIl

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NPs and PAs: Opportunities Outside of the Exam Room Ben Smith, PA-C, Thomasville, GA, discusses scholarly and leadership opportunities for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of December. https://t.co/Vzx6B1z2xJ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints https://t.co/cdizOgFqYf https://t.co/YHLAllxpO4

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ACR: New Data Highlights Urgent Need to Address Arthritis Burden New findings from national U.S. surveys reveal the profound impact of arthritis on millions of adults, especially those facing social and economic challenges. These data will be featured in an upcoming issue of https://t.co/3LlNQ3tx90
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×