Blog

Many East Tennessee patients with complex chronic conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis make the journey to into a larger city such as Knoxville, Chattanooga or Morristown regularly to receive biologic infusions. These infusions are typically given every 4-8 weeks, which means that patients not only spend more time in the car, but they often need to find dining options for breakfast, lunch or dinner before or after their infusion.

COVID-19 has amplified patient expectations about the quality and safety of care, particularly for the growing number of patients with autoimmune diseases. New provider alternatives for ongoing infusion and injection therapy are reshaping how and where specialized care is delivered.

There’s so many traditions to look forward to when the Thanksgiving holiday rolls around – from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the traditional dinner feast to endless hours of football. However, if you’re one of the many people living with IBD, traditional Thanksgiving foods might be the tradition you look forward to the least.

October 29th is World Psoriasis Day — an annual day dedicated to raising awareness for the people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In the US alone, it’s estimated that over 8 million people live with psoriasis.

The month of September celebrates yoga — an ancient practice combining physical, mental and spiritual strength — which many people find challenging, yet incredibly rewarding for their mind and body. It’s no surprise that yoga is known to be a beneficial practice in people’s lives, but it’s also one of the most commonly recommended exercises for those living with multiple sclerosis.

When someone has migraines more than 15 times monthly for several months at a time, doctors typically classify this as chronic migraines. Finding the right balance of medicine, treatment and likely triggers to manage this condition can be overwhelming.

As important as it is to stay active while living with MS, it’s even more important to exercise safely. During the heat of the summer, that means taking extra precautions to ensure you break a sweat while keeping yourself safe and healthy.

With the growing cost of care – especially for specialty pharmaceuticals like biologics – combined with new health plans designed to shift more of the financial responsibility to patients, every penny counts. Worrying about covering healthcare costs shouldn’t be at the forefront of anyone’s thoughts. Fortunately, there are a number of non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers that provide patient assistance programs (PAPs) to help shoulder some – and sometimes even all – of the financial burden.