Patients with arthritis deserve an integrated approach to their care

Conditions
July 9, 2012

I was recently invited to present at an international symposium in Germany on rheumatoid arthritis. My brief was to discuss how BJC Health, our clinic, provides integrated patient care for rheumatic disease. As it turns out, I had to turn down the invite due to conflicting commitments.

But I was flattered. Our Connected Care approach is being noticed.

Over the course of the last 24 hours, I’ve been thinking about what I would …

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Patients with arthritis deserve an integrated approach to their care

A rheumatologist goes to spin class

Physician
December 13, 2011

Spin Class. For the uninitiated, this involves a dark studio in a gym, rows of stationary bikes, and a pounding beat, heavy on the volume and bass.

The instructor out at the front cajoles and drives you through spurts of speed and tests your endurance with simulated mountain climbs. Some instructors are better motivators than others. One, I remember, stretched belief a little in trying to make us feel we were …

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A rheumatologist goes to spin class

Why doctors should stop wearing ties

Physician
August 12, 2011

I stopped wearing a tie to work at the start of 2004. It was summer and I was hot.

Its much more comfortable working without a tie, particularly in my job. Its easier to examine patients, its easier when I need to perform a medical procedure. I’m sure you can see how a dangling tie would get in the way.

I’ve also lost quite a few ties, sadly enough, to spillage, …

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Why doctors should stop wearing ties

Why you shouldn’t ignore a swollen knee

Conditions
May 24, 2011

If you develop a swollen knee, please don’t consider it a normal occurrence.

If there was a clear cause, such as a fall to the knee, or some twisting injury to the knee, it’s likely that the cause is due to some mechanical damage. An easily recognized example would be a football or rugby player sustaining such an injury on the playing field. In that case, its typically serious and when …

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Why you shouldn’t ignore a swollen knee

Gout is a common cause for episodic joint pain and swelling

Conditions
March 10, 2011

For Christmas Eve dinner, our family congregated at Café Opera, in the Intercontinental Hotel for a scrumptious seafood buffet. Going to a buffet is a little bit evil, as you know that you’re about to commit the sin of gluttony.

I usually tell my patients who suffer with gout to avoid buffets. That 3rd mountain of prawns may precipitate an acute episode of gout. Christmas party season is a dangerous time.

Overindulgence …

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Gout is a common cause for episodic joint pain and swelling

Social media fears doctors face

Social media
January 6, 2011

It took me most of 2010 to weight up the pros and cons of starting a blog.

I already have a busy, well-established rheumatology practice and our clinic has grown steadily through word-of-mouth. There’s also always enough jobs on the to-do list without adding another regular task. Is it worth the risk? What is the risk?

In my first blog, I’ve tried to explain why I ended up agreeing to do this. …

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Social media fears doctors face