SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
Should I become a physician or physician assistant/associate? Practical overview from US News. KEY QUESTIONS: 1) which is harder to get into? 2) Career flexibility? 3) Work-Life balance? 4) Which fits for you? Both are a lifelong commitment to patient care. https://t.co/szv1nUmkYQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
AMA survey of 502 nurse practitioners (95% work on a MD-led team - 88% were satisfied; Half very satisfied working w/ MDs. 94% valued physician mentorship; 89% cited patient safety as a key benefit to physician-led care; and 88% listed liability protection as a key benefit. https://t.co/SVvr3XEQSz
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Equivalent Healthcare Outcomes by Nurses and Physicians
With increasing demand for health services in an aging population, serving complex patients with comorbidities, and increasing healthcare costs, the question of whether nurses can substitute for physicians was addressed by a recent Cochrane review.
American College of Chest Physicians has announced that advanced practice providers (APPs) can earn the CHEST Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider (CCAPP) designation; CCAPP Certification exam designed to validate clinical competence & Enhanced credibility/recognition https://t.co/Ip6YMjwOBc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is seeking to make more drugs available without a prescription; and has stated “everything should be over-the-counter” unless the drug is addictive, unsafe, or requires monitoring. https://t.co/CGurlOWO8m https://t.co/bFwkpZ3kbn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Supportive vs Flexible Footwear in Hip Osteoarthritis
Do shoes make a difference in osteoarthritis (OA)? Common advice often suggests that stable supportive shoes can improve arthritis symptoms in the knee, but does this apply to hip osteoarthritis?
Read Article
Epidemiology of Dry Eye Autoimmune Disease
Dry eye rates upwards of 20% were seen across nine common autoimmune diseases other than Sjögren's, most often in rheumatoid arthritis (39.3%) with Crohn's disease bringing up the rear (23.0%), according to Chi-Chin Sun, MD, PhD, of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Keelung, Taiwan, and colleagues
Read Article
3 Months of Romosozumab in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
A report in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology suggested that 3 months of romosozumab (ROMO) followed by denosumab is as effective at increasing hip bone mineral density (BMD) as the standard 12-month course.
Read Article
Referrals - Orthopedics or Rheumatology?
A question, often asked with urgency, posed by those who genuinely don’t know who to see for a musculoskeletal (MSK) complaint. Inquiring patients, family, or other physicians may be one forum for such a request. Another occurs in the https://t.co/aIoSaSvdIk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Early vs Delayed Belimumab in Lupus
An economic evaluation of early vs delayed use of the Blys inhibitor, belimumab (BEL), in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shown both cost effectiveness and clinical utility of early BEL initiation in active lupus patients.
While most would advocate for using your best therapy
Read Article
What's New in Spondyloarthritis
Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh and Dr. Eric Ruderman gave an update on what's new in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) at the 2026 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium (RWCS) in Maui, Hawaii.
https://t.co/X9MfrZLNBq https://t.co/VS04Ra5RZK
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @gibson_rheumPAC
Given rising resistance, effective first-line regimens and adequate duration (14 days) are critical. PPI-based quadruple regimens remain highly effective when patients can adhere.
#RNL26 https://t.co/bxqMbPFegt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Referral Rules to Live By (2.20.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights include referral rules, combination biiologics in psoriasis and don't use JAK inhibitors in pregnancy.
Read Article
Population survey of 21 000 US adults, 62.3% reported recent use of any OTC or prescription meds. Past-7-day prevalence of any OTC medication was equal to RX med use (46%) and increased use with age among both male and female individuals. https://t.co/xeWBQ0DnlB https://t.co/c8lqXOmAaT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Referrals - Orthopedics or Rheumatology?
“Orthopedics or rheumatology, who should I see?" A question, often asked with urgency, posed by those who genuinely don’t know who to see for a musculoskeletal (MSK) complaint. Inquiring patients, family, or other physicians may be one forum for such a request. Another occurs in the
Read Article
Comorbidity & Health Management
https://t.co/cSwCEDKL28 https://t.co/WP7yIdWPVY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Together PSO Trial - Combination Ixekizumab and Tirzepatide
Today Lilly announced top line results of the TOGETHER-PsO open-label, Phase 3b trial demonstrating the significant benefits of concomitant ixekizumab (IXE: an IL-17A inhibitor) and tirzepatide (TIR: GLP-1agonist) over IXE alone.
Read Article
Can I Use JAK Inhibitors During Pregnancy?
In 2020, the ACR Recommendations on Reproductive Health notably avoided firm guidance on the use of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) during pregnancy stating, "There is no available evidence regarding use or safety of the new small- molecule agents, tofacitinib, baricitinib, and apremilast, during
Read Article
Maui Potpourri (2.13.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the hot item takeaways from last week's RheumNow Live 2026.
https://t.co/ieRhIVZb2D https://t.co/KaYtSnHUIL
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @gibson_rheumPAC
Given rising resistance, effective first-line regimens and adequate duration (14 days) are critical. PPI-based quadruple regimens remain highly effective when patients can adhere.
#RNL26 https://t.co/rQps2rls8G
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @gibson_rheumPAC
Who should be tested?
Test only if you plan to treat.
Indications include:
• Active or prior ulcers
• MALT lymphoma
• Gastric cancer
• Chronic atrophic gastritis
Avoid indiscriminate testing.
#RNL26 atoid arthritis https://t.co/2KJluSAPNx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RNL 26 Report: Spondyloarthritis
Audrey Gibson, PA-C, reports from RheumNow Live 2026 in Dallas, Texas, about lectures presented during the "Staying Ahead of Spondyloarthritis" session.
https://t.co/UjvauWoga5 https://t.co/Zv8dmUuVyD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity, Surgery, and Optimizing Patient Care
Rheumatologic care requires a multidisciplinary approach and collaboration with other specialties to treat complex systemic diseases. While many Pods at RheumNow Live are disease-specific, the Pod II focused on Advancing Practice on https://t.co/hvSY5yHZmd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Disease Modification, Disparities and the Next Therapeutic Frontier in Gout
Gout management has entered what Dr. Robert Terkeltaub MD from UC San Diego described as its “disease-modifying era,” during his talk at RheumNow Live 2026. In a recent comprehensive review of the past, present, and future of gout therapy, the central message was clear: “We can really apply
Read ArticleTherapeutic Updates
Lupus Nephritis
Sponsored by RheumNow
View our six video perspectives on lupus nephritis, including Management of CKD in Lupus Nephritis.
Read Post
Recent Blogs
Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice.
Read Article
