An Interview with Carole Dodge and The Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals
Carole Dodge, OTRL, CHT, member of the ACR Committee on Finance and a Liaison for RNS and OAAA
1. What is your organization’s interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance?
The missions of Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP), a Division of the American College of Rheumatology, and the OA Action Alliance align nicely with each other to raise awareness through advocacy and to educate rheumatology professionals on Osteoarthritis (OA). By partnering, the opportunities to reach more lives and increase positive outcomes for people with OA become realized.
2. What do you think is the most important issue today related to osteoarthritis?
Determining what the best evidence is for effective treatment to improve quality of life and reduce pain so that patients with OA can remain active. ARHP equips rheumatology professionals with the tools needed to provide quality care for patients with arthritis and rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. To that end, ARHP offers several educational opportunities on Osteoarthritis including:
a. eBytes: 30 minute online educational offerings provide learners:
i. Osteoarthritis: Definitions, Criteria and Epidemiology
ii. Osteoarthritis: Clinical Manifestations
iii. Osteoarthritis 3: Management of Care for Patients
b. Advanced Rheumatology Course (launching December 2018): An online interactive learning activity specific to OA as well as 18 others that touch on adult, pediatrics, and combined tracks.
3. How does your work connect to issues in osteoarthritis?
I am an occupational therapist practicing in hand therapy. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t see someone with OA of the hands. The non-pharmacologic interventions we as therapists teach patients, help them learn to manage their arthritis with less pain so they can do more of what they want to do. ARHP’s Patient & Caregiver Guides, https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver, assist in that education.
4. What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?
“Get Moving: Exercise the Best Medicine for Osteoarthritis.”
5. What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?
ARHP, as a Division of ACR, is a unique interprofessional organization dedicated to the collaboration between many rheumatology professionals to improve the lives of those with a Rheumatic disease. |