PHYSICIAN CONSULTATION SERVICES

Thank you for selecting our offices for your arthritis and osteoporosis care. You are our primary concern, and we will do our best to help improve your life. We understand the difficulties of managing chronic diseases. We will educate you about your health needs and options, and we will be your partner to best control your disease.

The key to managing any chronic disease is good communication. We need to work well together, and we need your help in order to keep you as healthy as possible.

If you have not yet visited, there is important information for you in our “What to Expect” page.

Recognizing the need to incorporate seasoned healthcare executives, in July 2013 we tested and launched the expansion of our patient centric model and attracted 52 rheumatologists who made a small economic investment and a big time commitment to transform how Rheumatological care should be delivered. Our steering committee and volunteers evolved into a formal company with a physician controlled, owned and managed leadership board with active working committees.

For our established, returning patients, please notice that you can access our Patient Portal through this website. This will allow private, secure messages between you and our office. We will be checking our messages frequently, and will respond to these messages first, even before we respond to telephone messages.

The Patient Portal will also allow you to see the results from your blood and imaging tests, and soon will allow you to make return appointments and pay the balance of your bill.

Please see our office staff on how to set up your Patient Portal account. Let’s get you started!

Again, Welcome! or Welcome Back! and thank you for choosing the AARA team.

LABORATORY & X-RAY

Most of our patients require some laboratory tests or x-rays. Some of our offices have these services available in the office for your convenience.

Pregnant patients should not have x-rays. And, let us know if you have difficulty with blood draws.

We use the latest technology

text here

text here

JOINT INJECTION THERAPY

Rheumatologists have been trained and have experience placing needles into our patient’s joints in a safe and sterile manner. We do this to remove fluids as well as to inject medications.

A common treatment is to inject cortisone to decrease inflammation and promote healing and recovery.

We also inject hyaluronate into the knee joints for minimizing advanced osteoarthritis pain, and to delay surgery for the replacement of knee joints.

MUSCULOSKELETON ULTRASOUND

Using an ultrasound machine to visualize a joint is an exciting new tool for rheumatology. Some of our offices have been trained for this, and will discuss it with you if it is needed. Ultrasound uses sound waves rather than radiation to visualize the joint.

Ultrasound can help your doctor make a diagnosis or to guide a needle to the right location.

NERVE CONDUCTION TESTING | EMG

Pain is felt through nerves, and nerves control muscles. Your doctor may want you to have testing on the nerves and muscles to see if this is a part of your problem.

Some offices have these services available in the office for your convenience, if it is authorized by your insurance.

OSTEOPOROSIS ASSESMENT CENTER

Your doctor is a local expert for the assessment and treatment of osteoporosis.

Some of our offices have a DEXA scanner used to measure your bone density, in order to test for osteoporosis and to help manage the treatment of osteoporosis.

There are helpful medications to use with exercise, calcium, and vitamin D to fight osteoporosis.

Is a bone density test painful?
No, bone density testing is completely noninvasive and painless. Most people find the test relaxing. You lie on a padded x-ray table while measurements of your spine and hip are performed and nothing touches you.
Is a bone density test painful?
No, bone density testing is completely noninvasive and painless. Most people find the test relaxing. You lie on a padded x-ray table while measurements of your spine and hip are performed and nothing touches you.
Does my insurance cover bone density testing?
Many insurance carriers cover bone density testing for specific reasons, those reasons vary according to medical history and/or condition. If you are unsure about coverage, contact your insurance carrier directly. The facility that performs the DEXA scan can help with your questions also.
How do I prepare for a DEXA scan?
Calcium supplements should not be taken for 2 days before a DEXA scan so that a slowly dissolving tablet doesn’t alter the test. It is best to wear clothing with no metal (snaps, zippers, clips, underwire, etc.) from your chest to your thighs. This would allow you to not need to change into a hospital gown for the test. It is also important that you have not had any other diagnostic tests that require the use of contrast media (barium, cat scan, etc.) within a week before your bone density test.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Arthritis patients commonly develop weakness and loss of flexibility in the muscles and soft tissues around their joints. Improvement can require a program of stretching and strengthening exercises that may have to continue for the rest of your life. Physical therapists are trained to adapt their knowledge of how your joints can improve with your unique problems. They can usually decrease your pain, improve your strength and flexibility, and teach you how to maintain your joints.

Some of our offices have physical therapists available for your convenience.

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Your arthritis problems will change over time, and we know that all the influences on your well being will make a difference for your outcome. We want you be healthy, and we will help you deal with the negative influences or make a referral to get more help.

Ask us about our Oasis Health program of medical supplements for arthritis pain, sleep problems and bone health.

We will answer your questions about living with arthritis, and advise you on adapting to the problems we cannot remove.

Some of our offices have Wellness Programs and Arthritis Rehabilitation services with team members available for your convenience.

INFUSION THERAPY SERVICES

For some types of arthritis, we have new and very effective treatments which use antibody technology to control the different causes for the inflammation that damages joints and other body tissues. Some of these medications are injections that can be done at home, while some are infusions that require a nurse.

Some of our offices have infusion services available for your convenience, while others will arrange for you to receive the infusions in a safe and accredited facility elsewhere.

INSPIRATION OF AARA

The concept of “Super Groups” has existed for many years. In early 2000, Dr. Howard Busch hosted a dinner meeting of prominent rheumatologists to discuss formation of a single specialty group. These leading rheumatologists unfortunately at this time, did not believe development of a super-group was prudent as no one physician felt the need to make a change. The environment was less hostile towards patient and doctors were relatively happy with the autonomy of clinical decision making inherent in their payor contracts.

As we fast forward to March, 2013, the medical landscape for patient and physicians had drastically changed. Physicians were more frustrated with the administrative burden imposed on their practices to deliver quality health care to their patients. So with a little momentum, hard work and an enormous amount of fortitude and tenacity we began the laborious development of the Florida Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates. (FARA) Initially, guided by myself and great friend and practice consultant , Dr. Steve Chaney we began developing the vision of a physician and patient centric specialty practice model.

Recognizing the need to incorporate seasoned healthcare executives, in July 2013 we tested and launched the expansion of our patient centric model and attracted 52 rheumatologists who made a small economic investment and a big time commitment to transform how Rheumatological care should be delivered. Our steering committee and volunteers evolved into a formal company with a physician controlled, owned and managed leadership board with active working committees.

The power that comes from a family of rheumatologists working together to advance quality patient care has allowed us to now lead the specialty profession in helping patients achieve quality outcomes through the use of common clinical pathways, approaching the uniqueness of every patient journey to collect relevant clinical data in our customized technology platform. We also possess the power to serve our patients better by integrating the financial elements of care that have become more critical to patient preference and outcomes.

We also recognized that business of medicine is reality not just for our patients but also our practices and fellow rheumatologists struggling to deliver quality care. Knowing we discovered an important element to redefine the patient journey, we also needed to attract superlative healthcare business people to scale and design a model for all Rheumatologists to avail themselves with important tools for their patients while bringing innovation and business experience to enhance the specialty rheumatology practice. This was the genesis of Bendcare a multi-stakeholder optimization company focused on aligning the goals of patients and physicians together, and then reaching out to all the service companies associated with delivering quality and innovation. Bendcare also helps physician groups organize and optimize their practice models which lead to the transformation of FARA to AARA, The American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates which is now serving Rheumatologists in seventeen states.

Many thanks to some amazing physician colleagues who have sacrificed their time and contributed with great passion; Jeff Ritter, Marc Jaffe , Jamie Pachon ,Trisha Mueller, Kevin Stone, Elias Halpert, Alan Alberts, Azarel Abinader, Barry Waters, David Makover , Marguerita Garces, and my ofice partner Keivan Dehghanpishe who puts up willingly without complaint for the maniacal hours dedicated to redefining rheumatology.

To all of these excellent physicians and talented people, I offer sincere appreciation and gratitude. We have not only created a National company for rheumatologists but a preferred destination of care for patients suffering from musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases.

We all believe we have the power to change and improve the patient journey, collect quality real time longitudinal data never before achieved, change and improve the culture of medicine to be inclusive and not divisive. By example, we are ensuring the survival of our specialty and more importantly the service and delivery model that can serve our patients and our communities.

CLINICAL RESEARCH

AARA physicians have a long history of participation in clinical trials and have helped in the development of many new groundbreaking treatments for rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. Our physicians have been recognized as thought leaders in the field of clinical research and adhere to the highest level of quality and safety. Enroll is the name of the AARA research organization which combines the resources of many AARA physician researchers and their staff with the management expertise of Bendcare.

Clinical research is a well-defined process of bringing new pharmaceuticals, biologics and devices to the general population of rheumatic patients. Some of the reasons to consider a clinical research trial include new treatment options not commercially available, helping identify causes of a disease, studying the interplay between genetics and illness among many other.

Your AARA physician may be involved in clinical research studies. Participation in clinical research is voluntary. Feel free to inquire about clinical research with your AARA physician.

Some examples of the disease states that your physician may be performing clinical trials:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Osteoarthritis