WE PIONEERED THE FIRST ARTIFICIAL KNEE. FOR OUR LUPUS PATIENTS, STARTING THE FIRST HELP LINE WAS JUST AS SUPPORTIVE. OUR ‘LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS’ PROGRAM HAS HELPED HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEAD BETTER LIVES.
At Hospital for Special Surgery we are world renowned for orthopedics and rheumatology. We not only pioneered the artificial knee, our scientists have worked tirelessly to perfect it. And our surgeons have now replaced over 35,000 knees, more than any hospital in the world. But we have many patients and families that depend on us for help in many areas you may not know about. If you or someone close to you, has been diagnosed with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or myositis, our social support programs can help. YOU HAVE LUPUS QUESTIONS? OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE ANSWERS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, MANDARIN, AND CANTONESE.
Patients diagnosed with lupus are likely to have a life long relationship with our hospital. Lupus symptoms are complex and can differ enormously from one patient to another as can treatments. And while our rheumatology doctors and scientists have made great strides in treating this disease, lupus patients and their families need all the support they can get.
So if you have a strange new or unusual lupus symptom who you gonna call? Our LupusLine® help line. And you don’t have to be a patient of Hospital for Special Surgery. Our lines are open to help anyone with lupus nationwide. Call1-866-375-1427and following a telephone screening our manager will arrange a mutually convenient time, including evening and weekend hours, for you to talk to one of our counselors. Because Latino and Asian Americans with lupus may have different needs and questions, we also started Charla de Lupus/LupusChat® help line at 866-812-4494 and LANtern® help line, our Lupus Asian Network at 866-505-2253. To help teenagers with lupus and their families lead better lives we set up our teen and parent group. And if you’re pregnant and live with lupus our counselors can share some very good news with you. A recent study at HSS has discovered that careful monitoring of your pregnancy can prevent complications. All of our volunteers helping lupus patients live with lupus themselves, some with over twenty years of dealing with this chronic disease.
As well as support from help lines we also offer free lectures and education programs to patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis and their family members. Over two million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. It can be a debilitating disease. Our ‘Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis’ group meets monthly and has helped hundreds of people since we founded it in 1999. Recent research at HSS has proven that early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can stop joint damage. And a combination of physical therapy and anti-rheumatic drugs can achieve less disease progression. So last year we introduced a new free program for people recently diagnosed with early rheumatoid arthritis. WE HAVE MORE PATIENT SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR RHEUMATIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITIONS THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL IN THE NATION.
Since 1985 our social work programs have increased by ten fold helping thousands upon thousands of people. As well as offering support for people with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, we also offer help and education groups for osteoporosis and for rare conditions such as myositis and scleroderma. We also offer a special Senior Advocacy Program to assist outpatients aged 60+ with accessing services and support to improve their quality of life. For a complete list and more information on all our social work and education programs please visit HSS.edu/supportprograms
Your first step in improving your quality of life or a loved one’s, diagnosed with a rheumatologic or orthopedic condition, is only a click away. Hospital for Special Surgery is an affiliate of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and Weill Cornell Medical College. We are located at 535 E. 70th Street, NYC, with affiliated physician offices in Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey.