Rheumatology is a poor brand.
I was chatting with some of the other parents at my kids' school function. Invariably, the topic turned to what we all do for a living.
I usually say that I'm a doctor. Sometimes, I venture that I'm a rheumatologist.
Very few people would know what a rheumatologist is.
Does this matter?
YES.
While people do not understand what a rheumatologist is, awareness for the arthritis, the various musculoskeletal diseases, and the autoimmune diseases we treat will remain poor.
If you don't know who to go to to treat your problem, chances are you won't have it treated as well as it can be.
This lack of brand awareness is also an issue among other doctors, including general practitioners. While they may know what rheumatologists are, they might not know the breadth and depth of what we can do. This may also mean that they are less aware of the new and exciting developments in the field.
How should we enhance our brand?
Dr Irwin Lim is a rheumatologist and a director of BJC Health. You should follow him on twitter here. Arthritis requires an integrated approach. We call this, Connected Care. Contact us.