Some 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). The Chronic Osteoarthritis Management Initiative (COAMI) Work Group has outlined a new vision for the management of OA, according to a recent statement from the US Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI). The goal is to improve patient outcomes by focusing on a multidisciplinary approach and implementing management steps that center on the patient’s symptoms and the context of the disease, such as family history and comorbidities.
“Paying attention to patients’ symptoms, starting with asking about them in various settings, asking about a family history of joint replacement, following up both proactively and longitudinally, and applying the principles of integrated, multispecialty systems of care, all would improve outcomes for the millions of people with OA,” said Joanne M. Jordan, MD, MPH, Director of the University of North Carolina’s Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Chair of the COAMI. “Many of these changes could be implemented now."
COAMI Work Group members include orthopedic nurses and surgeons, specialists in rheumatology and rehabilitation and sports medicine, osteopathic physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
Among the priority actions listed by the USBJI are a Call to Action geared specifically to healthcare professionals who treat patients with OA, as well as to policymakers and the public; develop standardized screening tools and indicators of OA to promote the likelihood and consistency of early diagnosis; and develop tools to enhance patient engagement in learning about and managing OA. US Bone and Joint Initiative; September 7, 2012