Rheumatology
Rheumatology incorporates the investigation, holistic management and rehabilitation of patients with a wide spectrum of disorders of the muskuloskeletal system encompassing the locomotor apparatus, bone and connective tissues and blood vessels. Medicine HomeRheumatic disorders include inflammatory arthritis, complex auto immune rheumatic and multi-system disease, soft tissue conditions including injuries, osteoarthritis, spinal pain, chronic pain syndromes and metabolic bone disease.
The optimum investigation and management of such conditions is therefore quite often challenging and rewarding and requires a multi-disciplinary approach linking the application of principles of pathophysiology of disease and advanced therapeutics with sound principles of rehabilitation.
Core competencies required for a Rheumatologist
The rheumatology curriculum is oriented around achieving competency in a number of domains including
- A sound knowledge of the epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology and treatment of these conditions coupled with an ability to apply basic science relevant to rheumatology
- Ability to perform and interpret a full history and clinical examination of patients presenting with such patients
- Ability to select and interpret the results of, the core investigations used in rheumatology, including blood tests and imaging techniques
- Ability to choose appropriately and implement the full spectrum of treatments, pharmacological , biological, physical and otherwise, available for managing patients with musculoskeletal and related conditions
- Competence in a wide range of joint and soft tissue injections
- Ability to communicate well with patients and members of the multi disciplinary team
- Ability to holistically manage patients with musculoskeletal and allied conditions
- Provision of effective team working and leadership skills which increasingly span primary and secondary care
- Designing and implementing relevant clinical audit and responding to audit results
- The management skills necessary to participate in and lead a rheumatology team
- The critical appraisal and interpretation of published clinical research
- Facilitiating effective learning by other clinical staff
Rheumatology provides an excellent opportunity to practice clinical medicine in its broadest sense with principles of acute and chronic disease management at its core. This may often result in the building of satisfying and rewarding long term therapeutic and educational relationships with patients. The specialty may be linked with duties in GIM
Education and Clinical Teams
Dr James Clark
Clinical Lead
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Dr Ben Mearns who joined SASH in 2007, is a consultant in acute medicine and a geriatrician. He is chief of medicine and responsible for leading the extensive number of services within the medicine division; ranging from the emergency department (A&E) and cardiology to therapies and pharmacy.
He is passionate about patient engagement and the delivery of safe high quality care. He values the opportunity to hear from the people we care for and to ensure that their views are heard. He is a strong advocate of patient involvement in continuing to develop and improve the services we provide.
Dr Mearns is a member of the SASH executive committee and an active member of the transformation guiding team. He is also a senior associate at the Nuffield Trust.
Dr Ben Mearns
Chief
View Profile
Dr Ben Mearns who joined SASH in 2007, is a consultant in acute medicine and a geriatrician. He is chief of medicine and responsible for leading the extensive number of services within the medicine division; ranging from the emergency department (A&E) and cardiology to therapies and pharmacy.
He is passionate about patient engagement and the delivery of safe high quality care. He values the opportunity to hear from the people we care for and to ensure that their views are heard. He is a strong advocate of patient involvement in continuing to develop and improve the services we provide.
Dr Mearns is a member of the SASH executive committee and an active member of the transformation guiding team. He is also a senior associate at the Nuffield Trust.
Dr Ursula Davies
Dr Sian Griffiths
Dr Raad Makadsi
Dr Warren Shattles