For curriculum content visit Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board - Rheumatology.

Rheumatology incorporates the investigation, holistic management and rehabilitation of patients with a wide spectrum of disorders of the muskuloskeletal system encompassing the locomotor apparatus, bone and connective tissues and blood vessels. Rheumatic disorders include inflammatory arthritis, complex auto immune rheumatic and multi-system disease, soft tissue conditions including injuries, osteoarthritis, spinal pain, chronic pain syndromes and metabolic bone disease. The optimum investigation and management of such conditions is therefore  quite often challenging and rewarding and requires a multi-disciplinary approach linking the application of principles of pathophysiology of disease and advanced therapeutics with sound principles of rehabilitation.

Core competencies required for a Rheumatologist

The rheumatology curriculum is oriented around achieving competency in a number of domains including:

  • A sound knowledge of the epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology and treatment of these conditions coupled with an ability to apply basic science relevant to rheumatology
  • Ability to perform and interpret a full history and clinical examination of patients presenting with such patients
  • Ability to select and interpret the results of, the core investigations used in rheumatology, including blood tests and imaging techniques
  • Ability to choose appropriately and implement the full spectrum of treatments, pharmacological , biological, physical and otherwise, available for managing patients with musculoskeletal and related conditions
  • Competence in a wide range of joint and soft tissue injections
  • Ability to communicate well with patients and members of the multi disciplinary team
  • Ability to holistically manage patients with musculoskeletal and allied conditions
  • Provision of effective team working and leadership skills which increasingly span primary and secondary care
  • Designing and implementing relevant clinical audit and responding to audit results
  • The management skills necessary to participate in and lead a rheumatology team
  • The critical appraisal and interpretation of published clinical research
  • Facilitiating effective learning by other clinical staff

Rheumatology provides an excellent opportunity to practice clinical medicine in its broadest sense with principles of acute and chronic disease management at its core.

This may often result in the building of satisfying and rewarding long term therapeutic and educational relationships with patients. The specialty may be linked with duties in GIM.