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NP/PA Coverage

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.

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Telling You Where to Go (12.19.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. Who would've thunk - a PsA FMF connection? Labs to diagnose SSc-ILD? IgA-RF may be important or RZV may not work in JAK inhibitor treated patients?

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Tricks of the Trade – Clinic Advice from APPs

J. Cush and many 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 and passion for what they do.

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Wolters Kluwer surveyed 203 PAs: - 62% wish for more clinical experience prior to - Most adopted AI, majority need more AI training - 45% prefer title of “physician associate” https://t.co/96Hkh21wSr https://t.co/j7Xep47qMN
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 disease.

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Role of the Nurse in the Care and Management of Rheumatic Diseases - EULAR Review

In 2023, a EULAR subcommittee set out to assess the roles of nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) in the care of arthritis as outlined in published EULAR guidelines. The scope of APN practices was first proposed in 2012 and revised in 2018. EULAR updated its recommendations for the role

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AANP survey of US 2338 Nurse Practitioners (mostly primary care) re: shared pts w/ rheumatologists. NPs managing RA want improved communication w/ rheums, & education on RA management. PC NP confidence w/ RA was 47% Somewhat confident, 6% very confident, 19% not confident. https://t.co/YVEpJua9hj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Survey of physician assistants finds 56% use AI daily (19% AI extensively). 87% PAs say they need to learn more about AI, 83% desire formal, employer-led AI training. 89% believe AI will dramatically changes PA practice, but only 32% have clear workplace guidelines on AI usage https://t.co/yGqZRC3mNt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Five Fractures You Don’t Want to Miss

In orthopedic practice, missing the wrong fracture can significantly alter a patient’s outcome. Certain injuries may appear subtle on initial imaging yet carry serious consequences if not promptly recognized and managed. Below are five fractures that warrant a high index of suspicion due to

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I Can't Believe it's Not Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?! In rheumatology, we're no stranger to uncertainty. In any diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, it's always our invitation to reconsider the diagnosis. https://t.co/JaLfRha6dq https://t.co/WwT5Q8B5Ad
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
APP QD Clinic: Difficult AxSpA Philip Mease, MD and Christy Vath, PA-C, Seattle discuss a difficult to treat axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) case. This APP QD clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of December. https://t.co/VY0O26l7XC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The 1st Nurse Practitioner program was launched in 1965 (@ Univ Colorado), since then the profession has grown to >461,000 licensed NPs nationwide (up from 385,000 in 2023). ~1 billion patient visits are delivered by NP’s every single year https://t.co/Ma9wHHiy8E https://t.co/gytIMsd2wt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints https://t.co/dZjD1Y5IBn https://t.co/WwhMbUysZl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Cases & Guidelines: Tuesday Night Rheumatology Panelists discuss their approaches to a range of difficult cases in multiple areas, including RA, PsA and PMR. Panelists: Audrey Gibson, PA-C; Benjamin A. Smith, PA-C; Emma Bavage, ANP; Jack Cush, MD https://t.co/1HPBdPdIVx https://t.co/30Q6azQU3r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: Weakness with Fibromyalgia ack Cush, MD and Leilani Law, APN, Dallas, TX, discuss a case about weakness with fibromyalgia and how to best treat the complaints she presents with. This APP QD clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" https://t.co/OHeTdemtra
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Reefer Madness (12.12.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.

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RHEUM Survey> In RA, seropositivity correlates best with what?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

QD Clinics - Mission: APP Partners in Care Week 1 QD300: Flare or Beware (featuring Lindsay Tom, PA-C and Phong Nguyen, MD) QD301: CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lupus (featuring Philip Mease, MD and Cayla Alexander, DNP) QD302: Unweanable PMR (featuring Jack Cush, MD, and Leilani Law, https://t.co/Ow2KMAzwGK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Metabolic Bone Pearls

Betsy Kirchner, DNP, shares practical tips for managing metabolic bone disease, including the importance of VFA imaging to catch asymptomatic vertebral fractures and utilizing fracture liaison services to close care gaps. She highlights key pearls like the doubled fracture risk in RA patients,

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I Can't Believe it's Not Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?! In rheumatology, we're no stranger to uncertainty. In any diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, it's always our invitation to reconsider the diagnosis. https://t.co/JGPTXkvF3E https://t.co/ds1aRzAPF7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
APP QD Clinic: Difficult AxSpA Philip Mease, MD and Christy Vath, PA-C, Seattle discuss a difficult to treat axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) case. This APP QD clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of December. https://t.co/qlBUtt6zWr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Medical Cannabis for Pain Management

Recent research and publications have underscored the use, efficacy, safety and limitations to the use of cannabis for arthritis and pain patients.

Chronic pain affects more than one in five American adults, yet practitioners are limited in treatment alternatives. Even if we exclude the

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APP QD Clinic: Unweanable PMR APP QD Clinic: Unweanable PMR Jack Cush, MD, and Leilani Law, APN, Dallas, TX, discuss a case regarding unweanable polymyalgia rheumatica. This APP QD clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the https://t.co/Gl8iQJf1d2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
INITIAL Goal is to not miss Red Flag Conditions (Fx, septic or crystal arthritis [all acute monarticular})! Then provide timely Dx & Rx by establishing acute vs chronic, inflam vs noninflam, & articular vs nonarticular.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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