We provide support to primary care providers who wish to develop expertise in the recognition and management of common rheumatologic conditions, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Expanding Access to Care
The United States faces a critical shortage of rheumatology providers. The American College of Rheumatology estimates that by the year 2030, the demand for rheumatologists will be more than double the supply. The rheumatology workforce crisis is particularly dire in rural areas, where wait times to see a rheumatologist can exceed 6 months, and patients often travel over 50-100 miles each way for rheumatology appointments. Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently faced with diagnosing and managing their patients’ rheumatologic conditions with little specialist guidance. Many Native American communities are particularly hard-hit, faced with an extreme shortage of rheumatology providers and a high prevalence of rheumatologic diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of autoimmune arthritis, affecting more than 1.3 million Americans. Early diagnosis and treatment of RA can prevent substantial pain, deformity, and disability. Our project uses an established educational model, Project ECHO, to provide remote support to primary care providers who wish to develop expertise in the recognition and management of RA, with the primary goal of improving RA disease-associated outcomes and reducing health disparities. We began our work in 2021 with a focus on Navajo Nation, the largest American Indian reservation. Since then, we have expanded our mission to support PCPs and community health representatives serving vulnerable populations nation-wide.
Participate in Our Program
Online Curriculum
Our RA ECHO is a three-month long curriculum consisting of weekly hour-long interactive sessions held via Zoom.
Recorded Sessions
Learn about RA from our past sessions in our library. Portal password provided once registered for the curriculum.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote access to evidence-based, culturally-specific care for people living with rheumatic diseases in underserved communities,
with a particular focus on improving health for Native American communities.
Our Team
The RAE Initiative is a collaborative effort between healthcare providers and community health leaders from the Navajo Area as well as RA specialists from the University of California San Francisco and the American College of Rheumatology.
Providers Trained
Since 2023, in partnership with Indian Country ECHO, we have expanded our reach to American Indian and Alaska Native providers, training healthcare professionals across 16 different states.
