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The term rheumatic disease represents more than 100 different diseases that are chronic and unpredictable. More than 46 million Americans, or one in five adults, have a diagnosed rheumatic disease, including an estimated 300,000 children. Due to the variety of symptoms experienced by the patient, several professionals may be involved in working with the patient at any one time. This multidisciplinary team functions in a variety of ways, with a focus on improving rheumatology care, education, and research.
Why Use a Team?
Because rheumatic diseases are often complex and affect many aspects of the patient's life, effective management requires the coordinated efforts of a diverse group of professionals. With the patient as its central focus, the role of the multidisciplinary team is to assess and manage the patient's symptoms and their effects on physical, psychological, and social functioning. The priorities of treatment are determined with the patient, resulting in a treatment plan that will lead to the best control of the disease and its symptoms and improve patient functioning.
Who Are the Team Members?
The role of the patient on this team is to identify the problems, fully participate in developing the treatment plan, and evaluate the outcomes of the plan on an ongoing basis. Additional members of the team may include any of the following:
Advanced Practice Nurses
Case Managers
Dietitians
Health Educators
Internists
Nurses
Occupational Therapists
Orthopedic Surgeons
Physiatrists
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Primary Care Physicians
Physician Assistants
Physical Therapists
Psychologists
Rheumatologist
Social Workers
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Other Health Care Professionals
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The various team members may be involved in treatment, education, and/or research. Each member has unique skills that complement those of the others; and, together, they are responsible for creating an individualized, cost-effective treatment plan. The following papers attempt to give an overview of the role of some of these team members in the management of rheumatic disease.
For additional information, contact the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, 2200 Lake Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30319, (404) 633-3777.
June 2008 (Revised) Practice & Membership and Executive Committee
October 2002 (Revised) Executive Committee
2001-2002 (Revised) Professional Papers Task Force
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