Rheumatology

Programs & Services

Image for the rheumatology program

The division of rheumatology, part of the arthritis program, provides outpatient clinical activities that take place in both the Martin Family Arthritis Care and Research Centre, a multidisciplinary ambulatory unit; and on the third floor of the Shuter wing, where the staff offices are located.

In the Martin Family Centre (MFC), rheumatology clinics occur alongside specialized orthopedic, plastic surgery and neurology clinics, which assists interdisciplinary interaction at all levels. With the assistance of the nursing staff and front desk group who manage inpatient intake and assessment, referral and test bookings, the MFC provides an effective, timely and efficient environment for ambulatory care.

Outpatient surgical suites perform procedures such as needle arthroscopy.
Exam rooms are stocked with equipment for joint aspiration and injection, including corticosteroid preparations and anaesthetic solutions.
Two polarizing microscopes are located in the physician offices for synovial fluid analysis.
An X-ray machine is located in the fracture unit, providing diagnostic X-ray services in a timely fashion.
The blood letting station and laboratory facilities are located nearby and all results and reports are recorded and available by secure password on the Hospital's clinical database, which is accessible in the MFC.

Rheumatology inpatient and emergency room clinical activities are consultative. The physicians rotate on-service for two week blocks. On weekends and holidays new rheumatology consults are seen first by the senior admitting resident (SAR) on call. The SAR contacts the staff attending for review.

Patients requiring hospitalization for rheumatologic diseases are admitted under one of the four general medicine teams who have primary responsibility for their care. The rheumatology rotation is highly rated by the core medicine residents at the University of Toronto, and we are generally assigned two core medical residents per month and several elective medical students each year.

Medical residents are assigned to the division for one- or two-month blocks and are responsible for inpatient consultations and review with the staff. Formal inpatient rounds are held twice weekly, but cases may require more urgent attention in the interval.

Divisional educational activities take place in a variety of venues. Rheumatology staff participate in postgraduate educational activities, including morning report and beside teaching sessions. In addition to our significant commitments in the undergraduate teaching program, our rheumatologists give both the Tovee lecture for fourth year students and the Royal College Review lecture for PGY4 residents.