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@dadcue

I liked my rheumatologist at the University that I saw at my rheumatology visits for 12 years. I think she liked me too or at least she kept me as her patient for 12 years.

When I retired, I transferred my medical care to the VA across the street from the University. The VA system was hard for me to get used to because I saw a different rheumatologist at every visit. I wrote her a message asking if I could reestablish my care with her at the University. She wrote the following response back to me on EPIC.

"Mike, my advice is to stay at the VA. It may be the only way you will get Actemra, as it is now in short supply due to use for respiratory distress syndromes secondary to COVID-19. Also, the VA advantage is you can often get things well before they are "FDA-approved" which is NOT the case with Medicare. For instance, Actemra is not FDA-approved for PMR. Also, I cannot prescribe for you at the VA based on University visits. At your next VA visit, ask about being seen in the Friday Fellow's clinic. That way your provider only changes ~ every 2 years. One thought: Actemra works for one thing.... Humira for the other... ask them about a trial of Xeljanz (which also isn't FDA approved for either uveitis or PMR, but might work, and you would only be able to get it through the VA)."
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I took her advice and I went to the Friday Fellow's clinic at the VA. My doctors are still learning. The nice thing is my rheumatologist at the University oversees the Fellow's program. I think she is still keeping tabs on me.

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Replies to "I liked my rheumatologist at the University that I saw at my rheumatology visits for 12..."

When you get a great one, you can sure tell the difference. I’d do almost anything to keep mine. I think his PharmD in addition to his MD is a big advantage in this disease.