Get Rheumatology Triage Form

The most common rheumatic diseases include osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis—sometimes referred to as RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. It can cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in several joints at once.

"Your doctor refers you to a rheumatologist when he or she suspects you have a systemic, autoimmune condition," says Dr. Ganti. "These are diseases in which your immune system is attacking your own body. In the process, inflammation occurs in different organ systems within the body, leading to a variety of symptoms."

Your doctor will examine your joints for swelling, tenderness and other signs of inflammation. Finding where and how you hurt is important because different types of arthritis affect different parts of the body and may come with other symptoms, such as a rash or eye inflammation. Lab tests.

Triage of patients referred to rheumatologists has been suggested as one way of addressing the wait-time issue at the system level5. Triage is the process of efficiently and correctly identifying the urgency of a patient's disease state, and may help prioritize patients for rheumatology consultation6,7.

Primary health care providers should consider referring patients to a rheumatologist if: You diagnose or suspect an inflammatory type of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis), or to confirm a diagnosis.

Early diagnosis of RA is crucial because there is a window of opportunity early in the disease during which aggressive treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can alter the course of the disease, prevent or delay joint damage, increase the chance of disease remission and improve long-term outcomes ...

A patient was classified as having RA if at least four of these seven criteria were satisfied; four of the criteria must have been present for at least six weeks: morning stiffness, arthritis of three or more joint areas, arthritis of the hands, and symmetric arthritis.

A rheumatologist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats arthritis and other immune-related diseases and conditions....The most common reasons to see a rheumatologist include: Rheumatoid arthritis. Lupus. Osteoarthritis. Gout. Psoriatic arthritis. Sjögren's syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Vasculitis.

Must have suspected persistent joint inflammation for at least 4 weeks (and for less than 6 months) & 2 of the following: Swelling of 3 or more joints. Swelling of the small joints of the hands and/or the feet. Positive MCPJ or MTPJ squeeze test.

Common Rheumatic Disorders Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Lupus. Spondyloarthropathies -- ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) Sjogren's syndrome. Gout. Scleroderma. Infectious arthritis.

Adults with pain, swelling and stiffness of more than 1 joint, or the small joints of the hands or feet, are referred within 3 working days of their GP appointment to a specialist in rheumatology. Early referral means that they can be diagnosed and start treatment sooner if they have rheumatoid arthritis.

The Rheumatology Nurse Rapid Access Triage Clinic aims to shorten the waiting time of patients suspected to have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is hoped that patients with active RA can be fast-tracked to commence earlier treatment for better disease control.

The most common rheumatic diseases include osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis—sometimes referred to as RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. It can cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in several joints at once.

"Your doctor refers you to a rheumatologist when he or she suspects you have a systemic, autoimmune condition," says Dr. Ganti. "These are diseases in which your immune system is attacking your own body. In the process, inflammation occurs in different organ systems within the body, leading to a variety of symptoms."

Your doctor will examine your joints for swelling, tenderness and other signs of inflammation. Finding where and how you hurt is important because different types of arthritis affect different parts of the body and may come with other symptoms, such as a rash or eye inflammation. Lab tests.

Triage of patients referred to rheumatologists has been suggested as one way of addressing the wait-time issue at the system level5. Triage is the process of efficiently and correctly identifying the urgency of a patient's disease state, and may help prioritize patients for rheumatology consultation6,7.

Primary health care providers should consider referring patients to a rheumatologist if: You diagnose or suspect an inflammatory type of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis), or to confirm a diagnosis.

Early diagnosis of RA is crucial because there is a window of opportunity early in the disease during which aggressive treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can alter the course of the disease, prevent or delay joint damage, increase the chance of disease remission and improve long-term outcomes ...

A patient was classified as having RA if at least four of these seven criteria were satisfied; four of the criteria must have been present for at least six weeks: morning stiffness, arthritis of three or more joint areas, arthritis of the hands, and symmetric arthritis.

A rheumatologist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats arthritis and other immune-related diseases and conditions....The most common reasons to see a rheumatologist include: Rheumatoid arthritis. Lupus. Osteoarthritis. Gout. Psoriatic arthritis. Sjögren's syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Vasculitis.

Must have suspected persistent joint inflammation for at least 4 weeks (and for less than 6 months) & 2 of the following: Swelling of 3 or more joints. Swelling of the small joints of the hands and/or the feet. Positive MCPJ or MTPJ squeeze test.

Common Rheumatic Disorders Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Lupus. Spondyloarthropathies -- ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) Sjogren's syndrome. Gout. Scleroderma. Infectious arthritis.

Adults with pain, swelling and stiffness of more than 1 joint, or the small joints of the hands or feet, are referred within 3 working days of their GP appointment to a specialist in rheumatology. Early referral means that they can be diagnosed and start treatment sooner if they have rheumatoid arthritis.

The Rheumatology Nurse Rapid Access Triage Clinic aims to shorten the waiting time of patients suspected to have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is hoped that patients with active RA can be fast-tracked to commence earlier treatment for better disease control.