Arthritis - Time to Move!

A national strategy to reduce a costly burden

On 24^th March 2014, Arthritis Australia launched a new strategy to support improved care for people with arthritis. 

The strategy was developed in response to growing evidence that care for people with arthritis in Australia falls well short of best practice and that this is resulting in a high burden of preventable morbidity, distress and disability.

The strategy focuses on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis and covers the spectrum of care from prevention to advanced disease. The strategy is evidence- and consensus-based, and has been developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders including people with arthritis, their carers and medical and allied health practitioners, including a representative of the Pharmacy Guild.

Key recommendations include awareness raising strategies, improved education of health professionals, better education and support for people with arthritis to help them to self-manage their condition and access to multidisciplinary care. The strategy recognises that a broad range of health professional groups, including pharmacists, have an important role to play in improving care and support for people with arthritis.

The documents supporting the strategy are available at http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/.

Learn morea about arthrithis by completing the education module below.

Source: http://www.guild.org.au/news-events/forefront/volume-4-number-10/arthritis---time-to-move!, Tuesday 1 April 2014