Off to the 2011 ACR meeting

Three days to go until my mom and I board the Cincinnati Megabus heading for Chicago. Mom turned 80 yesterday, so this trip will be part of her birthday festivities. I try to attend the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting to keep up with new...

Prop Open that Back Door

You may already know, Reader, that Dr. Fritz’s office has a back door. That glass door leads directly from the office to a field of grass, and almost 20 years ago, it was one of the deciding factors in Dr. Fritz’s decision to lease this particular office...

A Rheumatologist Wrestles to Keep her Patients First

Navigating the maze of managing and maintaining a medical practice today is increasingly difficult. Often, I wish that on any given day I could see my patients, collect a reasonable amount of money for my service, pay my staff and myself, and go home. But practicing...

I’ll Hold Your Arthritic Hand even if You Can’t Hold Mine

Renoir, Aline, and Coco, 1912At the time of Dr. Fritz’s first visit with her patients, she explores their social histories. Taking a comprehensive social history is a critical part of being a good physician. Why? Because social histories—family relationships,...

Balance and Fibromyalgia

After 25 years of diagnosing and treating patients with fibromyalgia, I am struck by a perception of imbalance consistently present in the lives of patients with this syndrome. I too often observe individuals who are working too hard, not playing hard enough, and...