The Week in Review: 5 February 2016
Dr. Cush reviews highlights from last week's news and research in rheumatology.
Blogs
It Took Me 30 Years to Learn This About Rheumatoid Arthritis
I’m alot better at RA in the last 10 years than I was when I started to practice 30 years ago. RA has not changed, but tools, knowledge and treatments have progressed admirably. Decades have taught me that many aspects of RA were wrongly taught, misunderstood or not apparent when I first started in rheumatology in 1984. Here are 10 things I've learned.
70 & Up
Four men and 4 women, 5 joint replacements, 4 knee arthroscopies, 2 cancers and 6 bad attitudes were not enough to deter the inspiration and perspiration required of us last weekend. So how did we do? And yes, there are pictures.
Pushy Patients
Do your patients challenge you? Do you live up to their expectations? How many steps do you have to climb to be better?
Patients Believe Lab Tests More Than Doctors
Patients believe that a lab result is a numeric true representation their biology and a pivotal arbiter of wellness, yet physicians often dismiss such results as hanging chads in a meaningless election. Why do patients believe their labs moreso than their doctor?
How to Handle Latex Allergies and Biologics
What to do when a patient has a latex allergy and you prescribe an injectable biologic (many having latex allergy as a contraintication)?
The Maintenance of Certification Controversy 2015: The Year in Review
With so much controversy surrounding the American Board of Medical Specialties' Maintenance of Certification program in 2015, especially as it pertained to the ABIM, Dr. Westby Fisher recaps some of the earlier announcements about the ABMS MOC program, then summarizes the year's most pertinent developments to serve as a springboard for 2016.
What's it like to have RA - from those who do and don't
A patient recently asked me, “What do you think it’s like to have RA” and “How would you describe it to someone you just met?” Could I walk a mile in her shoes? Here's my version and theirs.
2015 Rheumatology Year in Review
Was 2015 a good year for psoriasis, IL-17, biosimilars, narcotics, the ACR and gout? Our year end review discusses the most impactful news and research from the last 12 months.
Leading With Questions
I find it interesting that when the Q&A part of the lecture begins, everyone acts as if they just got on the elevator. Who is willing to go out on a limb and ask the first question? Is Q&A the best or worst part of lectures that you attend? What can you do change the impact of your next Q&A experience?
TIPS for Arthritis Travelers (Best of 2015: #3)
Travel can be challenging for arthritis patients. Here are some useful tips to travel smoothly and pain free.
Compounded Pain Cream Scams (Best of 2015: #4)
I was methodically signing off on stack of refill requests, until I find one I don’t recognize. The patient is mine but the prescription (under my name) is not. It’s for a specialty compounded cream...
