Hello everyone! Glad to share this below paper, and even I am more glad to share that I participated in its content – with its very important topic – through my discussion through Rheumatology Private Practice Alliance (RPPA) group, in the part that they referred to in the article!
I am very glad for finally a recent publication article at Medscape Rheumatology (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/reducing-rheumatology-waitlists-applying-solutions-amid-2025a1000kc5) talking about the problem we both independent rheumatologist AND rheumatology patients are facing including talks about rheumatologists shortages and “Impact of healthcare consolidation”, and am glad a doctor supporting the idea of “Telemedicine” in rheumatology, and also even I am more glad that I am part of the article when I participated in this talk as a member of RPPA rheumatologist discussion group the paper referred to. For those who are interested to know some aspects of this topic, including primary care providers AND patients, feel free to review this article I RECOMMEND TO REVIEW, I do feel this is important to INCREASE AWARENESS of this topic please review and enjoy the article if you are interested to help and IMPROVE OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM!
Dr Habal, MD
| Reducing Rheum Waitlists: Applying Solutions Amid RoadblocksIndependent rheumatologists can see new patients quickly, but healthcare consolidation and internal referral restrictions often delay care. Learn how practices and organizations are changing this.www.medscape.com |
Abeles’ experience of being shut out of referral networks is shared by many, Su said, and the trend denies patients timely access because PCPs are often the “most nimble.” In an online discussion led by Su among members of the RPPA, rheumatologists relayed similar frustrations and cited wait times in their communities’ large healthcare systems of up to 12-14 months.
“Employed physicians are discouraged from referring externally,” said one rheumatologist. “It’s only when patients do their own research that they learn they can be seen sooner in our office.”
Said another rheumatologist: “Primary care physicians with the hospital systems refer within the hospital network only, unless the patient creates a ruckus and demands something different.”
