Clinical Care Standards are a suite of concise statements outlining the calibre of care patients should expect for a particular clinical condition or pathway, grounded in the latest evidence.

These standards pinpoint critical areas for enhancement and are supported by a set of indicators and metrics to gauge care quality.

Recognising the need for benchmarks in rheumatology, the Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA), has pioneered the development of the first-ever RACCS in Australia. This standard aims to improve the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis. 

The RACCS;

• provide guidance to healthcare professionals so they can deliver quality care and have informed discussions about treatment options with their patients. 
• set out the components of care that health services can use to guide practice and monitor improvement in their hospitals and other services where the Clinical Standard is appropriate. 

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Care Standard for Healthcare Professionals
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Care Standard for Consumers 

The ARA thanks the members of the ARA RACCS Working Group and Dr Maria Sukkar. Their tireless commitment and expert contributions have been instrumental in establishing this groundbreaking standard, poised to elevate the quality of rheumatoid arthritis care across Australia.

RACCS Working Group 

Chair:  Catherine Hill (Rheumatologist)

Members

• Rosemary Ainley (Consumer)
• Claire Barrett (Rheumatologist)
• Stephanie Bond (Rheumatologist)
• Linda Bradbury (Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner)
• Andrew Briggs (Physiotherapist)
• Angela Brown (Consumer)
• Rachelle Buchbinder (Rheumatologist)
• Lisa Carroll (Rheumatologist)
• Rebecca Grainger (Rheumatologist)
• Pauline Habib (Rheumatologist)
• Justin Holland (Exercise Physiologist)
• Tony Hollins (Clinical Psychologist)
• Rebecca James (Paediatric Rheumatologist)
• Helen Keen (Rheumatologist)
• Donna Knapp (Occupational Therapist)
• Monica Kubizniak (Dietitian)
• David Liew (Rheumatologist and Clinical Pharmacologist)
• Lyn March (Rheumatologist)
• David Martens (Rheumatologist)
• Carol McCrum (Physiotherapist)
• Dennis Neuen (Rheumatology Advanced Trainee)
• Jonathan Ong (General Practitioner)
• Susanna Proudman (Rheumatologist)
• Debra Rowett (Pharmacist)
• Sabina Schott (Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Consultant)
• Marline Squance (Lifestyle Medicine Consultant)
• Debbie Turner (Podiatrist)
• Sam Whittle (Rheumatologist)
• Shirani Wright (Consumer)

In 2024, the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG) with the support of the ARA, updated the Standard of Care (SOC) for JIA. This project aligns national standards with the latest evidence and international best practices.

This process involved the invaluable participation of healthcare workers across various disciplines and consumers with firsthand experience of these conditions, reinforcing the standards with real-world relevance. 

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Standard of Care 

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Consumer care guide

The Commission (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) have produced Clinical Care Standards on a range of topics including:

• Osteoarthritis of the Knee
• Low Back Pain 

For more infomation on the Commission's Clinical Care standards, click here.