Clinic for Rheumatic Diseases

11/02/2025

Saturday, November 1st marked the 6th anniversary of CRD moving into our current address.
It seems like yesterday.
We continue to be grateful for our clinic space, the wonderful people who work in it, and our wonderful patients for whom we have the privilege of participating in their medical care.

05/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=paintrainer

We just came across this resource for patients with chronic pain, regardless of cause. It is completely free. We encourage our patients who are so inclined to give it a try. Don't expect this tool to completely remove your pain. But it is a good opportunity to help you feel better.
And more help is on the way for our patients with chronic pain.

Please feel free to share with any friends who might benefit from the painTraining program.

painTrainer.org

08/17/2024

Many of our patients who are covered by BCBS of Alabama have gotten letters notifying them that Dr. Jones will have his PMD status terminated as of September 29, 2024. This has occurred because of a contractual dispute that arose last week between Dr. Jones and BCBS.
This matter in now being appealed and it is in the hands of lawyers.
Our primary focus is the continuity of care for our wonderful patients. We were unsettled by this news and we understand how patients must feel. As we go through this process with BCBS, you, the patients, will remain our primary concern.
Please know that BCBS patients will not have to seek rheumatologic care outside of our clinic. We have three wonderful physicians who will be able to step into this circumstance and provide you with wonderful care.
Our office will be reaching out to you if you have not already reached out to us. Further details will be coming soon to provide you with further certainty about your ongoing treatments.

08/21/2022

We have even more great news!

Dr. Brittany Hill, currently in her second year of a rheumatology fellowship at LSU/New Orleans, will be joining CRD in September of 2023! Dr. Hill spent a significant amount of time at CRD during her internal medicine training in Birmingham and we have followed her career path very closely. West Alabama is very fortunate to have a physician of her character and quality come and practice in our area. She will be very well-received by patients and colleagues alike.

08/06/2022

We are delighted to announce that Ryan Mathew, MD, MBA will be joining CRD in the practice of rheumatology. Dr. Mathew is coming to Alabama from The Ohio State University where he is currently on staff in the Division of Rheumatology. He is an outstanding young man and will be a fantastic addition to our practice. The prime beneficiaries from this addition will be the patients in West Alabama and beyond who get to experience his skilled and compassionate care. He will officially begin his duties with CRD September 19, 2022.

03/02/2022

We know there is lots of interest about potential changes to our masking policy now that CDC guidelines have been relaxed regarding use of masks indoors. Currently Tuscaloosa County has a significant rate of COVID cases and is bracketed by two COVID "hotspots" --- Fayette County to the north and Marengo County to the south --- that have the highest rates of COVID per population in Alabama, We have many patients who come from those counties to our clinic. Therefore, we are not relaxing our mask policy at this time. We will be following the COVID case numbers closely and will be altering our policy as those numbers decrease.

02/28/2022

To our valued patients, this page is not a forum that is checked daily. It is not a way to reach our office. We cannot respond to questions in a timely manner, and we are unable to answer any questions regarding patient specific appointments and information. Instead, call our office at 205-750-0030. Follow the prompts when guided and we will speak to you as soon as possible. Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you soon.

01/03/2022

The clinic will be open tomorrow morning, January 3rd, at the usual time. Some staff and patients may not have a safe route to travel at that time. Please simply let us know. We fully understand what weather events like this in Alabama can do. Please call the clinic tomorrow during regular business hours if you have any questions.

05/07/2021

https://www.al.com/news/2021/05/alabamas-amended-medical-ma*****na-bill-doesnt-apply-to-pms-menopause.html

Regarding the "Medical Cannabis" bill passed by the Alabama legislature and awaiting Gov. Ivey's signature:

I do not know what Gov. Ivey's intentions are regarding this legislation. If she does not sign it, the purpose of this post becomes moot. But if Gov. Ivey does sign this bill into law and another physician places you on medical cannabis, it will prevent us from continuing to write your pain medication prescription.

There are significant risks for impaired mental capacity for individuals who are on both opiates and THC-containing products. It is our policy right now to NOT prescribe pain medications to anyone who is using THC in any form. The fact that medical cannabis might become legal in Alabama does not alter the medical reality that opiates and THC together offer significant dangers to patients and potentially to others around them.

It would be my suggestion that the physician who agrees to write a prescription for you for medical cannabis should also be the physician who becomes the overall coordinator for your pain management.

Our practice will not be prescribing medical cannabis.

If you have any questions about this, please write them down and bring them with you to your next appointment. We will not be responding to questions about this subject on Facebook.

“I am so disappointed that we have an amendment that seeks to exclude women that are 51% of the population of this country, of this state, but not in this body,” said Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove.

02/16/2021

The clinic will be open on Tuesday, 02/16/21. We know there will be those of you who cannot come. Please just call and let us know.

There will be no charges for no-shows tomorrow.

Please put safety first.

02/14/2021

With the high likelihood of a winter storm tonight/Monday, our clinic will be cancelled on Monday 02/15/21. If you have not heard from us already, we will be reaching out to reschedule your appointment.

There is a significant likelihood we will not be able to open on Tuesday as well. We will update that status here on Monday as soon as we get a clearer indication on what Tuesday will be like.

Please be cautious tonight and in the following 36 hours if you are out driving on the roads. I highly advise keeping your travel to only what is absolutely necessary.