Blogs
What I'm Looking Forward to at #ACR16
The ACR Annual Meeting (#ACR16) is such a huge event that it’s worth your time to spend an hour or two planning your time at the meeting. Here's my tentative #ACR16 session schedule.
Reboot Your Digital Self: Part One
This is written as a check-up to your digital self and a wake-up call to those of you who are disconnected lazily or willfully. This is written for the journal-subscribing, big textbook toting physicians whose primary education is acquired at the medical library, weekly medical conferences or grandiose annual conventions. Before you bail out on this blog, you should recognize the consequences of not being digital.Georgia Society of Rheumatology: Education Leads the Way
Rheumatologists in Georgia and across the country are under extreme pressure to care for our patients. The Georgia Society of Rheumatology exists to stimulate interest and increase knowledge of arthritis and rheumatic diseases among physicians, allied health professionals, and lay advocates. Following are highlights of GRS issues and activities.
Florida Society of Rheumatology Annual Report
Through educational, administrative and legislative efforts, FSR works for the betterment of rheumatology practices and patients in Florida. Here's how.
MACRA for the Overwhelmed Rheumatologist
You are in good company if you find the alphabet soup of rules and regulations impacting your practice a bit overwhelming. MU, ICD10, MOC, VBM, MIPS, APM, PQRS, ACO, SGR...it’s enough to trigger fantasies of early retirement among even young rheumatologists. But don’t despair!
MONEYBALL
The movie Moneyball is a David versus Goliath tale with the A’s (David) struggling to compete with Goliath teams like the Yankees. The movie pits hunch-driven “expertise” (convention) against a mathematic approach to decision making (Moneyball). Would you trust a big Whopper computer printout of next best drug(s) to give to Mrs. Hawking who has psoriatic arthritis and needs to start a DMARD? I believe most of you would huff and scoff at a formulaic or number-driven approach.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica: An Interval Look at Management Questions
p dir="ltr"Despite an often fairly characteristic pattern of signs and symptoms, there are significant diagnostic challenges with polymyalgia rheumatica. The reason is that similar clinical features can be also observed in other diseases mimicking PMR, including infectious and malignancies, elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis, chondrocalcinosis or myositis, to mention some of the most important differential diagnoses. nbsp;/p
Take the Patient's Call
I recognized the tone in his voice. I recognized the clipped words and the unmistakable undertone of bother and dismay. I recognized them because I have had the same tone, the same clipped speech and latent frustration in my voice: and now I was on the receiving end of this undercurrent of impatience. It took my recent stint as a patient to make me realize how important the call from the patient can be.
Wine (and Food) and the Rheumatologist Attends EULAR 2016
After several months’ hiatus, I am back and writing about my recent trip to London. My past blogs centered on wine from my rheumatology-related trips and experiences. Moving forward I'm adding a culinary dimension; hence, it will be Wine, Food and the Rheumatologist. My bone fides? Well, I like to eat, that is for sure - but more than that, I like to cook.
The Errors that Underlie 'Medical Errors' in the News
Upon reading the title of a recent news item - 'Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US' - a feeling of apprehension and dread arose. Very quickly, my worst fears were realized.
