Arthritis Consumer Experts launches JointHealth™ Education Advanced Therapies for Inflammatory Arthritis

June 21, 2018
For Immediate Release

ACE launches JointHealth™ Education Advanced Therapies
North America’s first course designed to educate arthritis patients introduces new lesson on advanced therapies for inflammatory arthritis

(VANCOUVER) — Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) announced the launch of its newest on-line patient education course: JointHealth™ Education Advanced Therapies for Inflammatory Arthritis. This three-lesson course is designed to help patients living with inflammatory arthritis identify when the appropriate time to transition from conventional synthetic disease modifying medications (csDMARDs) to an advanced therapy, such as a targeted synthetic DMARD or biologic DMARD, and what key questions to ask about how they are taken and how they work in the body.

“JointHealth™ Education was inspired by many of ACE’s members living with an inflammatory arthritis who have told us they lack the knowledge and communications skills to have full, satisfying conversations with their rheumatologists on topics such as treatment options during their appointments. We want to ensure patients have the tools to understand when they need to start thinking about a therapy change. Patients like me often wait too long to make treatment plan adjustments, such as moving to an advanced therapy,” said Cheryl Koehn, Founder and President of Arthritis Consumer Experts.

“Canadian rheumatologists have been actively discussing and pursuing ways to improve communication between patients and rheumatologists in order to work together to set treatment goals and establish a treatment plan to achieve the best possible disease outcomes. JointHealth™ Education Advanced Therapies is a great course not just for patients, but also for rheumatologists – junior and senior, alike. We need to see our patient’s experiences, needs and goals through their eyes and words,” said Kam Shojania, MD, FRCPC, Clinical Professor and Head, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, and Medical Director of the Mary Pack Arthritis Program.

The JointHealth™ Education program provides current, evidence-informed lessons, quizzes and coaching videos through a secure, on-line classroom where they can learn from the comfort of their own home or over the work day lunch hour. The program helps prepare patients to appropriately frame their health concerns and questions with their health care provider. Upon successful completion of a course the patient “Graduate” receives a certificate indicating they have the knowledge and communication tips needed to successfully prepare for their medical visit, talk to their healthcare provider about setting treatment goals and making an overall plan, discuss specific treatments to manage and monitor their type of arthritis.

Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) is a national, patient-led organization that provides free, science-based information and education programs in both official languages to people with arthritis.

Whether it’s supporting patients to deal with their healthcare professional, public formulary or private insurer, helping people reach out to their local elected official, or empowering them to maintain their work careers, ACE supports Canadians living with all forms of arthritis by helping take control of their disease and improve their quality of life. ACE is guided by a strict set of guiding principles, set out by an advisory board comprised of leading Canadian scientists, medical professionals and informed arthritis consumers.

Founded and led by people with arthritis, ACE also actively advocates on arthritis health and policy issues, through ACE’s JointHealth™ family of programs and the Arthritis Broadcast Network, reaching more than 180,000 Canadians each month. ACE is also a leader in the Canadian patient community in providing public input to government decision-making about medications and is a regular contributor to the review processes of the Common Drug Review and drug plans in Canadian provinces and territories that invite the patient perspective in their assessments.

Name of the company: Arthritis Consumer Experts
Full postal address:
#210-1529 6th West
Vancouver, BC
Canada
V6J 1R1
Website: www.jointhealth.org

Detailed contact information:
Anita Chan, Program Assistant
Email: chan@jointhealth.org
Tel: 604-974-1366

Press Contact:
Kelly Lendvoy, VP Communications and Public Affairs
Email: lendvoy@jointhealth.org
Tel: 604-974-1129

This release was published on openPR.