Resource
Arthritis resources for health professionals
Health professional resource page changes upcoming
March 2024 - These resources have recently been updated and continued changes are expected. If you have feedback on these resources please reach out to us at mpap@vch.ca.
In an effort to support exemplary care for people with arthritis in British Columbia, the Mary Pack Arthritis Program (MPAP) provides resources for physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, physicians and other health professionals supporting people with arthritis.
Arthritis Continuing Education (ACE) Program
The Mary Pack Arthritis Program's Arthritis Continuing Education (ACE) Program membership is available to physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurses in British Columbia who have an interest in rheumatic diseases and/or work with people who live with arthritis. ACE members have access to the ACE Clinical Link Newsletter, ACE Clinical Exchange, Clinical Consultation, professional resources, ACE Directory and MPAP Reach Day.
Becoming an ACE member
If you have general questions about the ACE program or would like to become a member, call (604) 875-4111 ext. 68834.
ACE Course 2025
Join us for our “Introduction to the assessment & management of rheumatic diseases” course for nurses, physical therapists & occupational therapists.
The 4-day (virtual and in-person) course provides evidence-informed best practices in the assessment and management of common rheumatic conditions. Virtual only sessions available. Select your discipline’s brochure below for content and registration information.
Virtual (via Zoom): March 31 & April 2nd, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
In-Person: April 7 & 8th, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Registration opens December 5, 2024
Other arthritis continuing education:
- Arthritis Society Canada’s hybrid course Clinical Practice Skills for Inflammatory Arthritis
- Association of Rheumatology Professional’s online Fundamentals and Advanced Courses
- EULAR online courses through School of Rheumatology
- See a full list of in-person and online arthritis continuing education offerings.
ACE Clinical Link Newsletter
Published two to three times a year, this newsletter provides news, clinical tips, and resources on varied arthritis topics.
- ACE Clinical Link Fall 2024
- ACE Clinical Link Spring 2024
- ACE Clinical Link Summer 2023
- ACE Clinical Link Fall 2022
- ACE Clinical Link Summer 2022
ACE Clinical Exchange
The ACE Clinical Exchange is offered as a Zoom meeting and will be recorded. Join our experienced clinicians as they share a clinical topic or article and discuss its application in clinical practice across disciplines.
The next Clinical Exchange will be Thurs., Sept. 19th from 12:05-12:55 pm. Grab your lunch and log on for a lively discussion about myositis – a group of inflammatory diseases affecting ~50,000 Canadians.
Topic: Adult inflammatory myopathies: Assessing strength and function and supporting physical activity in this patient population.
Read article HERE
Zoom link: https://vancouvercoastalhealth.zoom.us/j/62979857887?pwd=ivHuw7jSmcALh18fdtq2P9kYD94LBc.1
No registration required, feel free to share with clinical colleagues who may be interested!
Clinical Consultation
Available to ACE Members, clinicians at MPAP provide virtual consultation and advice relating to the management of your patients with arthritis.
- For occupational therapy consultation: (604) 875-4111 ext. 68819
- For physical therapy consultation: (604) 875-4111 ext. 68834/68830
- For nursing consultation: (604) 875-4111 ext. 69218
Professional Resources
Educational materials are available, such as patient handouts, educational videos, as well as treatment approaches used at the Mary Pack Arthritis Program.
ACE Directory
We maintain a directory of clinicians who provide arthritis care organized by discipline and health authority. Contact your discipline educator as noted above to find a provider in your community or to be added to the list.
MPAP REACH Day
TBD in 2024. A day of presentations held annually in Vancouver in the Fall. A limited number of spots made available to local ACE members to attend in person.
Resources for Physical Therapists (PTs)
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Patient History Form
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Physiotherapy Hip Assessment
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Physiotherapy Knee Assessment
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MPAP Spondyloarthritis Assessment Form
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Intensive Collaborative Arthritis Program (ICAP) (multidisciplinary tool)
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Standardized joint count
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Spondyloarthritis (SpA) Spinal Assessment video
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Spondyloarthritis Video Spinal Measurement References
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Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis – Disease Activity Index
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Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)
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Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G)
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Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI)
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Additional guidance on Bath AS Indices
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RMAQ (Readiness to Manage Arthritis Questionnaire)
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Total Joint Arthroplasty and Outcome Measures (TJAOM) Toolkit
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Ulnar Drift Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Boutonniere Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Swan Neck Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Flexor Tenosynovitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Spondylitis Exercise Program
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Hand and Wrist Exercises
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Inflammatory Arthritis and Your Hands
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Preventing & Managing Osteoporosis
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Managing Arthritis Pain
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Osteoarthritis and Your Hands
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Resources for Occupational Therapists (OTs)
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Occupational Therapy Assessment Guidelines
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Occupational Therapy Initial Assessment
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Occupational Therapy Foot Assessment
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Occupational Therapy Hand Assessment
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RMAQ (Readiness to Manage Arthritis Questionnaire)
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Assessment of the Foot with Inflammatory Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Boutonniere Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Flexor Tenosynovitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Swan Neck Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Best Practice Recommendations for Management of Ulnar Drift Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Hand Resting Splint Protocol
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Making Plaster Hand Casts
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Making the Leather Wrist Working Splint
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Making the Polyethylene Working Splint
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Wrist Working Splints
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Managing Arthritis Pain
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Inflammatory Arthritis and Your Hands
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Osteoarthritis and Your Hands
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Osteoarthritis and Your Thumbs
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C1-C2 Sublaxation and Arthritis
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Joint Protection for Arms
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Joint Protection for Hips and Knees
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Joint Protection for Legs
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Joint Protection for Shoulders
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Managing Activities Arms and Hands
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Managing Activities Legs and Feet
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Wear and care - collars
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How to Wear and Care for Your Foot Orthoses
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How to Wear and Care for Your Resting Hand Splint
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How to Wear and Care for Your Thermoplastic Splint
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How to Wear and Care for Your Wrist Working Splint
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Resources for Physicians and Nurses
Medical guidelines and protocols
In B.C., medical guidelines and protocols are developed under the direction of the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee (GPAC), jointly sponsored by the B.C. Medical Association and the Ministry of Health. Find these guidelines on the Ministry of Health website.
Guidelines of interest for practitioners working with patients with arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis in Peripheral Joints – Diagnosis and Treatment (currently not available on Ministry of Health website)
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Testing for Connective Tissue Disease
- Bone Density Measurement in Women
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – Diagnosis and Management
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Roles of Allied Health Care Providers in Rheumatology
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Intensive Collaborative Arthritis Program (ICAP) Assessment Form
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ICAP RMAQ
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Drug Monitoring - Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)
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Allied Health Care Providers in Rheumatology
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My Health Care Team
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Guide to Understanding Laboratory Tests
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Weekly Health Journal
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Preventing & Managing Osteoporosis
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Tips for Improving Your Sleep
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Treating Your Jaw
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Online resources for health professionals
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Arthritis ID Pro
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EULAR Outcome Measures Library
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OARSI Performance Measures for Hip and Knee OA
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Orthopaedic Scores
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Rehabilitation Measures Database
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Total Joint Arthroplasty and Outcome Measures Toolkit
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Mobile Measures (App)
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Osteoarthritis Service Integration System (OASIS)
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Vancouver Coastal Health Patient Health Education Materials (PHEM)
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RheumInfo
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RheumTutor
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Osteoarthritis Tool (Arthritis Alliance of Canada/Centre for Effective Practice)
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Rheumatoid Arthritis for Physiotherapists eLearning (RAPeL)
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EULAR School of Rheumatology
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Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
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Canadian Best Practices Portal
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Exercise is Medicine: Professional Resources
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Medication Administration Quick Guides
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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
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National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
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Arthritis Health Professions Association
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Canadian Rheumatology Association
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American College of Rheumatology / Association of Rheumatology Professionals
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Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI)
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Online resources for consumers and professionals
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Arthritis ID
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Health Apps: A toolkit to help you
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My Opioid Manager
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Track and React
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Arthritis Society (Canada)
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Arthritis Society (Canada) - Flourish
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Arthritis Foundation (United States)
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Arthritis Australia
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Arthritis Research UK (United Kingdom)
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Health Talk Online (United Kingdom)
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PubMed Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine
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RheumInfo.com
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Self-Management BC
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National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)
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Spondylitis Association of America
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FibroGuide
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Additional online resources for consumers and professionals
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CreakyJoints
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JointHealth
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Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
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footEducation.com
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Terms of use and disclaimer
Terms of use
The material on these professional resources pages have been developed by and for staff at the Mary Pack Arthritis Program of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH) for the treatment of our client population and is provided, for information only. Evidence and practice may have evolved since the time of posting. Readers should review this material in the context of current evidence and their own situation. The Mary Pack Arthritis Program of Vancouver Coastal Health Authority does not warrant that material is current or applicable in any other setting. All content provided is for information and education and not as a substitute for the advice of a therapist or clinician.
Disclaimer
You are welcome to use these VCH publications for non-commercial purposes, but you do so entirely at your own risk. The publications are provided “as-is”—VCH cannot and does not promise that its publications are accurate, complete or error-free, and will not accept any liability to you or any third party relating to or arising out of the publications. VCH will not notify you if VCH discovers an error in, or otherwise changes, its publications.