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A Team Approach to Patient Care
Certified medical assistants, physical and occupational therapists, nurses (including infusion nurses and our triage nurse team) and lab and x-ray technologists, work with physicians to form the patient care team at ARA. Together they coordinate all diagnostic work and treatment. This gives patients the comfort of knowing there is always someone who can answer questions and provide assistance if their physician is not readily available.

When calling during office hours, an automated phone system will guide you through six different menu options. In our busy office environment, directly selecting where you want to go helps us handle your calls more efficiently. When you need to speak to a live person, our triage nurses and call center staff are there to assist you. Calls are returned as soon as possible; however,
you should call 911 if you have a true emergency. After hours a service answers the phone and contacts the doctor on call. In an emergency go to the nearest emergency room. Emergency room staff will then contact the physician on call.


Comprehensive, Accessible Services

ARA provides patients with comprehensive, accessible diagnostic and treatment services. This allows physicians to easily manage and coordinate patient needs while maintaining quality control.

Laboratory and X-ray Services
To expedite the diagnostic process, x-ray and laboratory facilities, which are state and federally licensed, are available at most offices. Lab technologists perform routine and specialty testing, as indicated. If required by your insurance company, we send laboratory work to a designated commercial laboratory.

Arthritis & Rehabilitation Therapy Services (ARTS)
A rehabilitation and physical therapy unit is located in both our Wheaton and Rockville offices.
A team of licensed physical and occupational therapists is available to assist in the process of returning patients to full functional status following an illness, injury, or surgical procedure. Our therapists have a special focus on the prevention and rehabilitation of such varied rheumatic and musculoskeletal syndromes as fibromyalgia, tendonitis, bursitis, neck and back pain, herniated disks, nerve compression syndromes, chondromalacia, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and all forms of arthritis. Progress is charted toward specific goals set by physicians and therapists,
with an ultimate goal of maximum patient comfort, function, and safety.

Osteoporosis Assessment Center (OAC)
Since 1984, OAC has provided state-of-the-art Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) bone density testing. We have centers at our Wheaton, Rockville and D.C. locations. Our centers specialize in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases in both women and men. We were the first to offer DXA testing in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We continue to offer DXA scans by certified technologists and complete DXA interpretation and reports by certified physician Clinical Densitometrists.

The Center for Rheumatology and Bone Research (CRBR)
Through this research program, physicians and clinical research coordinators participate in national trials to evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies. Our experience in conducting clinical trials began in 1982 and has covered the broad range of rheumatology including the evaluation of new agents for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Sjogrens syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and other connective tissue diseases. We have participated in more than 150 clinical trials. Our studies enable patients and community members to gain access to drug treatments not routinely available elsewhere.

Infusion Services
ARA physicians have extensive knowledge and experience in the infusion of biologic and other infusion-based treatments for rheumatic and inflammatory disorders. These include Remicade and Rituxan, among others. Our three, practice-based infusion centers are staffed by Registered Nurses with infusion experience. ARA infusion rooms have comfortable reclining chairs and are designed to provide a soothing environment. Our attentive nurses are committed to ensuring the well-being of all our patients.