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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Rheumatologist in Philadelphia, book an appointment, and see the Rheumatologist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Rheumatologists in Philadelphia who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Philadelphia Rheumatologist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Rheumatologists in Philadelphia and book appointments instantly. You can search for Philadelphia Rheumatologists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Philadelphia Rheumatologists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Rheumatologists in Philadelphia who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Philadelphia Rheumatologists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Rheumatologists in Philadelphia who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Rheumatologists in Philadelphia on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Rheumatologists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Rheumatologists in Philadelphia who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Rheumatologist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Rheumatologists in Philadelphia. Many Rheumatologists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Rheumatism is an old term for the inflammation of muscles, joints, tendons, and bones. Under this umbrella term, there are at least 200 different conditions; some have the characteristics of autoimmunity, i.e., uncontrolled activation of the immune system against healthy body cells.
Rheumatic diseases can be classified in many ways, but a simple classification is based on their nature. Rheumatic disorders include a broad spectrum of anomalies that predominantly involve the musculoskeletal system. These medical conditions are autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and degenerative/metabolic disorders.
Medical practitioners specializing in studying and treating rheumatic diseases are called rheumatologists. Most medical specialties focus on one part of the body. However, rheumatic disorders can affect the entire human body since connective tissue problems and autoimmune diseases can spread to different organ systems if not treated early. Hence, rheumatologists are trained in holistic treatment.
Rheumatic diseases usually require lifelong treatment, so practitioners stay in long-term contact with their patients. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right rheumatologist near you.
Aspiring medical students undergo a traditional bachelor's degree and four years of training in medical school. After graduating from medical school, students earn a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD).
After medical school, doctors must complete a mandatory three-year residency focusing on internal medicine or pediatrics. During their residency, doctors are exposed to a broad range of diseases. Physicians must pass the internal medicine or pediatric board examination for superspecialization in the future.
Doctors then obtain a two—to three-year fellowship that provides super-specialty training to become rheumatologists. This fellowship gives them in-depth training in musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Rheumatologists get board-certified after passing a rigorous exam that the American Board of Internal Medicine conducts to present themselves as subject-matter experts. All rheumatologists stay updated on the latest technologies and retake their exams every ten years.
Rheumatology gives a holistic perspective of several aspects of the human body. Hence, rheumatologists often work together with other medical specialties. They are often sought after by specialists who want a deeper diagnosis of persistent musculoskeletal or autoimmune diseases.
Alternatively, rheumatic experts may seek assistance from other skilled professionals, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, etc. Often, musculoskeletal disorders are chronic and need a team of medical practitioners with different skill sets to provide a long-term remedy.
Some of the common rheumatic diseases include:
Relatively rare rheumatic disorders include:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (ongoing) autoimmune disease. Unlike other types of arthritis, it develops in the joints of both sides of the body. Pain and inflammation in fingers, hands, wrists, knees, ankles, feet, and toes are common symptoms of RA. Uncontrolled inflammation damages cartilage, which cushions the joints. This can cause joint deformation over time. Your bone will eventually deteriorate, resulting in joint fusion, which is your body's attempt to defend itself from persistent irritation.
Certain immune system cells in your immune system aid this process. These compounds are generated in your joints but circulate throughout your body, causing discomfort. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis can affect body parts other than joints, including skin, eyes, mouth, lungs, and heart.
RA affects about 1.3 million people in the United States. Females are 2.5 times more prone to it than males. Although anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis, it often starts to develop in people between the ages of 30 and 60. Young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) affects children and young adults, usually between 16 and 40. Later-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) affects adults aged 60 and above.
Though the exact cause is unknown, researchers believe a mix of genetics, hormones, and environmental factors may cause this condition.
While you cannot control certain aspects of RA, lifestyle changes like the following may help:
We often ignore mild or sudden pain in our joints, muscles, etc. However, if the pain doesn't subside after several days or aggravates, you should consult a specialist. Many types of rheumatic diseases are not severe in the initial stages. Certain musculoskeletal conditions evolve slowly and may spread to other body parts from the primary affected area.
Early diagnosis and treatment help prevent long-term consequences. Rheumatologists evaluate and decide specific treatment plans for each individual as per their medical history and presenting complaints.
Since several autoimmune diseases are hereditary, your rheumatologist may want to understand your family history and lifestyle. To help determine the root cause of the medical issue, the rheumatologist may perform multiple diagnostic tests, including:
Rheumatic diseases may be complex and challenging to diagnose at times. Thus, rheumatologists gather your complete medical history first. Then, they look for signs and symptoms to identify the cause of your condition. Family history can be crucial in determining the cause of rheumatic diseases. Your rheumatologist will request the most information possible about your family history.
The rheumatologist will then review the results of any earlier tests. To look for additional potential hints to the probable cause of your musculoskeletal problem, the rheumatologist may order further laboratory tests, imaging studies (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI), or other tests.
The doctor will then combine the results to assess the source of the patient's symptoms and develop a customized treatment plan. It may take several visits with your rheumatologist to diagnose some rheumatic diseases. Treatment suggestions could be as follows:
Rheumatologists may treat recurring conditions during follow-up visits or consult with patients about medications, coping mechanisms, avoiding chances of disability or regaining function, and ways to enhance their quality of life.
You should bring the following with you for your first rheumatology appointment:
Often, patients require immunosuppressant drugs for severe rheumatic conditions. Such immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk of developing COVID-19. Rheumatology practices during the pandemic have faced myriad challenges. The medicines must be regularly monitored and altered based on the patient's immune status, making it necessary to stay in touch with your practitioner.
We often delay visiting a doctor because we need to know whom to consult. Your search for the best rheumatologist in Philadelphia, PA, ends with us. At Zocdoc, we have a list of rheumatologists practicing various subspecialties.
On Zocdoc, you can search for the healthcare provider you need, your preferred date and time, and your location. The search filters on the website also allow you to search providers based on your insurance plan. Besides, adding an image of your medical insurance card can help you easily select your insurance plan on Zocdoc. However, it is not mandatory. If you want to skip the upload and instead want to do it manually by picking your plan from a list, then you have that option as well. For any insurance-related queries, you can refer to Zocdoc's patient help center.
Each doctor's profile on Zocdoc showcases their specialty and testimonials from past patients. Some doctors also provide video consultations. You can review the individual profiles and select the doctor who best fits your requirements.
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As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate, approximately one in every three Americans, or about 91 million people, are likely to suffer from rheumatic diseases in the United States. The number of doctor-diagnosed cases could be around 54 million.
About 1.5 million people in America are estimated to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Women are around three times more prone than men to acquire this condition.
According to a study by the Lupus Foundation of America, about 1.5 million people suffer from some form of lupus, with children and teenagers most affected.
The Great Lakes region has about 957 adult rheumatologists and around 50 pediatric rheumatologists. The ratio between people and physicians for adults is ~41,424.2; for children, it's ~252,673.7.
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.