Episode 32 Differentiating Arthritis Types - AUTO + Arthritis = Early Detection, Referrals, Diagnosis

Between May 16 - 20th, we took our AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show LIVE, to help teach more people who we are, what we do, and how we impact the lives of those affected by AiArthritis Diseases while honoring the 450 million people worldwide living with our diseases. It also served as the starting line for our 2020 fundraising efforts. 

Differentiating Arthritis Types will help all people, with all types of arthritis, gain more understanding - and possible respect - for their condition, will increase detection and referrals, can lead to improved Quality of Life (QOL) and lower healthcare costs long term. The need to differentiate arthritis types, including the focus on a couple dozen autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory diseases that include arthritis as a major clinical component.

Over 100 autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases, not all include arthritis. The arthritis is different from other types (like OA or gout). It also can vary in aggressiveness and degree of disease burden. For all, the arthritis differentiates these diseases from the other 100+ and that is why we need to bring light to it.

It’s also equally important to teach both the public and practitioners about the differences so they do not dismiss it (i.e. you’re too young to have osteo, OR if you are older that “it’s not OA so it’s nothing) - lending to delays seeking medical attention. 

In this episode, we expand the conversation from patient-reported issues about the need to differentiate arthritis types to including the rheumatologist point of view. What can patients and rheumatologists do to help educate primary care physicians - and other rheumatologists - to consider the AUTO disease features + arthritis to increase detection, referrals, and diagnosis? How can organizations and patient-focused companies get involved? 

 

This episode builds on prior conversations (The Need to Differentiate Arthritis, Typical vs Atypical, and Diagnosis STAT!) and will expand to include more stakeholder voices as we continue the discussion in future episodes - including Rheumy RoundsⓇ and with other nonprofits from around the world. The end goal is to develop materials to educate the public and practitioners about the AUTO + Arthritis diseases and, in turn, increase awareness, expedite detection and diagnosis, and lower healthcare costs associated with delays. 

*Rheumy RoundsⓇ is a pilot episode developed by our organization that unites patients and rheumatology professionals at the table - as equals - to discuss issues that, if solved, would improve communication and outcomes. 

 

 

Who is “at the table”?

Dr. Alfred Kim, rheumatologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine and of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine, and founder and director of the Washington University Lupus Clinic.

Suz Schrandt is a patient diagnosed decades ago with Juvenile (Rheumatoid, now called Idiopathic) Arthritis and patient engagement advocate with a health and disability law background. She recently launched a new patient engagement initiative called ExPPect and is currently serving as the Senior Patient Engagement Advisor to the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine. Schrandt previously served as Director of Patient Engagement at the Arthritis Foundation, and as Deputy Director of Patient Engagement for PCORI.

Tiffany is the CEO at International Foundation for AiArthritis and person living with non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and other AiArthritis conditions. She uses her professional expertise in mind-mapping, problem solving, and teaching to help others, like her, who live with AiArthritis diseases work in unison to identify and solve unresolved community issues.

 

Patient Voices and All Other Stakeholders - Join our AiArthritis Voices Program and Connect to Opportunities to Have Your Voice Counted!

 

If you are a patient, a parent of a juvenile patient, or any other stakeholder (doctor, nurse, researcher, industry representative, or other health services person) - are you ready to join the conversation? It's your turn to pull up a seat. Join our new AiArthritis Voices program, where people living with AiArthritis diseases and other stakeholders who we need 'at the table' to solve problems that impact education, advocacy, and research sign up to have a voice in our initiatives. By signing up, you’ll get notified of opportunities to be more involved with this show - including submitting post-episode comments and gaining insider information on future show topics. Patients and all other stakeholders are encouraged to join so we can match you with opportunities to pull up a seat and TOGETHER - as equals - solve the problems of today and tomorrow.

JOIN TODAY!

 

AiArthritis Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at www.aiarthritis.org/talkshow. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook (@ifAiArthritis) or email us (podcast@aiarthritis.org).