| Finding the right arthritis specialist | | | | with 100% accuracy. Diagnostic |
| is extremely important since arthritis | | | | ultrasound is also much less expensive |
| not only can cripple you but it also can | | | | than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
| significantly shorten lifespan. | | | | 7. They should have completed at least |
| I give a lot of talks and the questions | | | | 100 clinical research studies. |
| I hear a lot are: "I went to an | | | | Physicians who have extensive clinical |
| arthritis specialist and they weren't | | | | research experience are much more |
| anything special" or "How do I find a | | | | attuned to the latest therapies than |
| good specialist?" | | | | those specialists who don't perform |
| Let's make a distinction here... there's | | | | clinical research. |
| a big difference between an arthritis | | | | 8. A specialist should have published at |
| specialist and an arthritis expert. To | | | | least 50 papers in the medical |
| get the best results you want an expert! | | | | literature. |
| A specialist is just somebody who passed | | | | 9. How many Google citations does the |
| the board exam. An expert is someone who | | | | expert have? Nowadays, more and more |
| not only passed the board exam but who | | | | people are getting their information |
| has also devoted his or her life to | | | | from the Internet. The mega search |
| becoming the best in their field. They | | | | engine, Google, probably has the best |
| publish articles, they do research, they | | | | ability to search for experts. The |
| are focused on top-notch patient care, | | | | number of citations a doctor has tells |
| and they make it their life's work to do | | | | you how much he or she has invested in |
| their best to help people who have | | | | time and effort to help with patient |
| arthritis. | | | | education and further their specialty. |
| And when it comes to your health, you | | | | It stands to reason, the more they write |
| better find someone who is tops! | | | | the more knowledge and expertise they |
| Otherwise you're wasting your time and | | | | possess. To see how many citations they |
| money. | | | | have, just go to Google, put in the |
| 1. Board certification. Board | | | | expert's name in quotes, like this, |
| certification is no guarantee. However, | | | | "nathan wei" and then the word |
| if a doctor isn't board certified that | | | | "arthritis", so it looks like this... |
| should send up a red flag. | | | | "nathan wei" arthritis. |
| 2. You want someone who has been in | | | | If you get fewer than 500 citations, |
| practice at least 20 years. Medicine is | | | | that person is not an expert. Remember, |
| like most skills...the more experience a | | | | not all specialists are experts. It's |
| specialist has the better. In 2001, | | | | like any profession. There are good |
| medical errors accounted for 97,000 | | | | ones, there are bad ones, and there are |
| deaths in the United States and there's | | | | truly great ones. In fact, there are |
| a direct correlation between lack of | | | | doctors who are pretty terrible. That's |
| experience and medical errors. | | | | right. They're terrible. Why? Because |
| 3. Look for these initials after the | | | | they don't know their specialty and they |
| MD...a.F.A.C.P. This stands for Fellow | | | | don't have good patient skills. Do you |
| of the American College of Physicians. | | | | really want to be stuck with a lemon? If |
| This means the doctor has academic | | | | you have arthritis, a potentially |
| credentials-they've published papers and | | | | life-changing disease, don't you think |
| are respected as an authority.b.F.A.C.R. | | | | it's best to see an expert? |
| This stands for Fellow of the American | | | | 10.What is their staff like? Even a |
| College of Rheumatology. This means that | | | | great physician needs a great support |
| they are at least board eligible or | | | | staff. |
| board certified. | | | | 11.Do you get the feeling they care? A |
| If they don't have FACP as well as FACR, | | | | good practice will make you feel like |
| they're not an expert. | | | | family. |
| 4. Arthroscopy is an important skill. | | | | 12.Are they part of your insurance plan? |
| It's the ability to look inside the | | | | This is a trick question. The very best |
| joint with a small telescope and | | | | experts don't let their decisions get |
| diagnosis and treat. Ask if the | | | | made by the insurance company. Your |
| arthritis specialist is a member of the | | | | health is the most important possession |
| Arthroscopy Association of North | | | | you have. Don't you want a physician who |
| America? These are the most skilled | | | | is going to be working for you and not |
| arthroscopists in the world. | | | | for the insurance company? Medical |
| 5. Do they have in-house laboratory, | | | | decisions affecting your health should |
| x-ray and bone density equipment? If | | | | be made with your well-being - not the |
| they do, ask if their lab is high | | | | insurance company's bottom dollar-- in |
| complexity and certified by the state as | | | | mind! Most real experts divest |
| a reference lab. | | | | themselves of insurance companies |
| 6. Do they have diagnostic ultrasound? | | | | because they do not want their judgment |
| This is a new technology for visualizing | | | | clouded by pressure from insurance |
| joint disease. It is used to detect | | | | companies and they have the reputation |
| evidence of early inflammation and also | | | | that allows them to do that. |
| to follow the effects of medications in | | | | If you found this information valuable |
| slowing the disease process. The use of | | | | and would like to know more, you can get |
| diagnostic ultrasound allows the | | | | a copy of our free Consumer Awareness |
| physician to perform joint injections | | | | guide. |