Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, has announced the opening of an IBM Specialty Clinic devoted to inclusion body myositis. The clinic is run by Dr. Conrad “Chris” Weihl, a leading IBM clinician and researcher. Washington University is known for the excellence of its neuromuscular program, and the specialty clinic demonstrates its dedication to caring for IBM patients.
The IBM specialty clinic provides diagnosis, ongoing care, patient education, and research opportunities. The clinic is appropriate for patients with established sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), suspected sIBM, or hereditary inclusion body myopathy.
Clinical Care
Dr. Weihl is committed to seeing new patients promptly, avoiding the long wait that frequently occurs when a patient is scheduling a visit with a top specialist. Since patients often travel long distances, the clinic strives to schedule appointments efficiently. For example, EMG and nerve conduction testing, a physical therapy appointment, and an appointment with Dr. Weihl may all be scheduled on the same day. Dr. Weihl can review patient records beforehand, so that muscle biopsy slides can be reviewed or genetic testing ordered before the actual appointment. Patients can be seen once in consultation or on a recurring basis. Ideally, a patient would be seen once a year to establish continuity.
The muscle biopsy storage room at Washington University. Each plastic container holds muscle biopsy slides from four patients.
Research Opportunities
The clinic is designed to provide inclusion body myositis research opportunities. Research charts are designed to allow easy identification of patients who are suitable for specific research projects. “Clinical trial readiness” is a goal of the IBM Specialty Clinic. Clinical trial readiness is a key and often underappreciated step needed to entice and align academic centers with industry goals.
Components of clinical trial readiness include:
- Patient registration and identification
- Functional assessment
- Harmonized patient assessment and diagnostic approaches
- Demonstration of continuity of patient care
Summary
The establishment of the IBM Specialty Clinic solidifies Washington University’s reputation as a premier medical center for inclusion body myositis care.
For further information, including contact information, please see the Washington University flyer announcing the opening of the IBM Specialty Clinic.