A small, but well-organized department offering a comprehensive range of services pertaining to this specialty. Emphasis is placed on proper record-keeping and ensuring minimum inconvenience to patients who generally need long-term follow up. We specialize in dealing with all sort of musculoskeletal aches and pains along with potentially fatal connective tissue diseases including all sort of vasculitides. The department has more than ten international publications to its credit.

The Department of Rheumatology is fully computerized and integrated with Hospital Management Information System of PIMS.

Out-patient services are organized on a two-tier level. The 'Filter Clinic' is the first contact point for all patients. Patients are seen in turn by one of the Medical Officers who does an initial assessment, organizes investigations (if needed) and arranges an appointment for the patient to be seen by either the Consultant or the Senior Medical Officer at a later date. If the patient turns up on the appointed date and time, he / she is ensured of the complete attention by an experienced doctor and thus get the best possible medical help. We respect the privacy of each patient and hence only one patient is allowed to be present in the doctor's room at one time. In case the patient misses his / her appointment and turns up at another time, he / she is seen in the Filter Clinic once again and another appointment arranged with the consultant at a later date. If at any time, the doctor in the Filter Clinic feels the need for a more expert opinion, it is made available by informing the Consultant / Senior MO. who then arranges to see the patient the same day. Each given appointment is not only noted in the 'Appointments Diary' but also stamped in the patient's case notes for referral if needed.

In-patient services are available in Surgical Wards 2 & 3. Consultant rounds take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist is the anchor person for coordinating patient services in the outdoor as well as indoor. She also has the important task of providing support and explanation to the patients and being available for advice regarding side-effects and monitoring of the potentially toxic drugs that are used in Rheumatology.

List of Services:

• Out Patient clinic six days a week
• Round the clock, seven days a week cover for emergencies through the accident and emergency department and other departments of the hospital.
• In door admission facilities for patients suffering from rheumatic disorders who need further evaluation or management.
• Department has a dedicated state of the art infusion facility. Here chemo and biological therapies are administered. The trainees get a hands-on experience in the art of administering various biologic and other chemotherapeutic agents under the direct supervision of trained staff.
• Department has a specially trained Rheumatology Specialist Nurse for patient care, supervision and education.
• The department id closely linked to the newly designed and fully functional physiotherapy department.
• The department has a separate designated day care section for minor procedures and injection therapies.