UPMC Arthritis Network

In planning for the next phase of health care evolution, it was necessary to design a system for subspecialty care in the UPMC System. In contrast to the needs for acquiring a relatively large number of primary care physicians to provide the patient base of the System, the future of outpatient subspecialty care (e.g. Rheumatology) will require fewer physicians in an organized system that will provide high quality comprehensive patient care in a cost-effective manner. After carefully considering the growing need for Rheumatology services at hospitals and practices recently affiliated with UPMC, a plan to acquire and integrate University Faculty and key private Rheumatology practices into a network of regional Comprehensive Arthritis Centers was implemented. This network is the clinical component of the University of Pittsburgh Arthritis Institute and is also referred to as the UPMC Arthritis Network.

At present, the UPMC Arthritis Network has been expanded to multiple practice sites in Southwestern Pennsylvania staffed by 24 rheumatologists from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. These Centers serve as sites for multidisciplinary patient care for arthritis and include rheumatology, rehabilitation, joint replacement, physical therapy and occupational therapy services.