Making Lupus headway - The Lupus Initiative

On the heels of my post Wednesday, "celebrating" my dozen or so years of lupus by throwing a Pillbag Sale, and hoping for at least another decade of continued progress, improved treatment, and increased awareness and understanding of the disease, I'm happy to share news of a brand new initiative established to increase medical professional knowledge about lupus. Isn't THAT refreshing news?  

 

The Lupus Initiative^® (TLI) is a national education program designed to reduce health disparities experienced by patients with lupus.  The curriculum of TLI and other online resources are designed to empower medical professionals to recognize signs and symptoms of lupus and make appropriate referrals, as well provide culturally competent and patient-centered care.  The curriculum includes presentation slides, interactive case studies, traditional case studies and a video reference library to better prepare future doctors to identity cases of lupus, and to assist and support them in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients disproportionately affected by lupus based on race, ethnicity, and gender.  Here's a link to TLI website, and, specifically, their Patient Info page. (Text above courtesy of TLI website.)

 

TLI is led by the American College of Rheumatology in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health and Office of Minority Health and the U.S. Surgeon General.  The initiative is in response to advocacy efforts led by the Lupus Foundation of America and other groups. I've personally known dozens of lupus patients across the country and around the world who have taken part in such advocacy efforts. Our voices have been heard, and the world is taking notice. 

 

Lupites of the world - Welcome to the spotlight!