The Rheumatoid Arthritis Primary Care Initiative for Improved Diagnosis and Outcomes...

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Primary Care Initiative for Improved Diagnosis and
Outcomes (RAPID) Provides Guidance to Improve Outcomes for Patients

MONTVALE, N.J., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Early diagnosis and treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis is critical for a patient's well-being. Yet primary care
providers and specialists face challenges in meeting the needs of these
patients and in developing a coordinated approach to management and referral.
To meet the needs of health care providers, The Journal of Family Practice
has published a supplement series of 3 continuing medical education
newsletters to help clinicians better diagnose and manage this debilitating
condition. These newsletters answer key clinical questions:
-- What diagnostic tests should be performed and by which clinicians?
-- How can specialists and family physicians collaborate for the best
patient care?
-- How should treatment be monitored for greatest impact?

This valuable resource is a must-read for busy clinicians who provide
primary care and whose role in RA management is pivotal to achieving
successful outcomes.
The RAPID newsletter series was published in April, July, and October
2007. These important publications are now available online at
http://www.jfponline.com/pages.asp?id=1061.
The Journal of Family Practice, a peer-reviewed journal distributed to
96,000 primary care physicians, collaborated with The Chatham Institute, a
medical education company and CME provider, to develop this journal supplement
series. This series was supported by a grant from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen
Inc., Centocor, Inc., and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can find this valuable series
at www.apctoday.com, an online resource for advanced practice clinicians.
The Journal of Family Practice is published by Dowden Health Media, a
Division of Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. APCTODAY is copyrighted by Dowden Health
Media, a Division of Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. Dowden Health Media is a full-
service healthcare communications company that specializes in high-quality
communication with physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and consumers.
Its highly respected, peer-reviewed journals reach more than 300,000
physicians and clinicians in surgery, psychiatry, family practice, internal
medicine and obstetrics/gynecology.
SOURCE Dowden Health Media

Bonnie Brown, Promotions Manager of Dowden Health Media, +1-201-740-6117