There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The word arthritis comes from the Greek word “arthron” meaning joint and the Latin word “itis” meaning inflammation. Aboriginal people have a two to three times higher rate of Rheumatoid Arthritis than anyone else in the world. Living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, stress management, eating well, being a non-smoker and getting a good night’s sleep has a positive impact on living with arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis can prevent joint deformity and loss of function.

Service Providers

The Arthritis Management Program is delivered by an Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) therapist. The ACPAC program is a 10-month certificate-based program hosted by St. Michael’s Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, in collaboration with the University of Toronto.

The purpose of the ACPAC
program is to train and prepare experienced occupational therapists, physiotherapists and registered nurses to deliver arthritis care in an extended practice role in response to:

• A progressive decline in traditional arthritis care specialists resulting in increased wait times for patients
• The need for an enhanced inter-professional approach to care for greater efficiency in the management of patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthritis

Services Offered:

• Assessment
• Review of your current symptoms/ limitations
• Review of your medical history and current medication list
• Complete musculoskeletal assessment
• Determine if arthritis is inflammatory or non-inflammatory

We can provide support for arthritis management which may include:

• Recommend additional testing (e.g. blood work, x-rays)
• Assist with referring to and securing appointments with other healthcare providers, including specialists in arthritis ma nagement (e.g. rheumatologist, physiotherapist, and traditional healer)
• Provide education (1:1 and/or group setting) on specific management techniques (e.g. joint protection strategies, energy cons ervation, pain management, therapeutic exercise, modalities, splints and orthotics, and assistive devices)
• Assist with accessing available funding sources for pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treatment
• Assist specialists and primary care providers to monitor your arthritis using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) whenever possible to eliminate long distance travel