Not Just a Number

When she began experiencing extreme symptoms often associated with rheumatoid arthritis, Karen Phalin knew that she needed specialized care.

“I was seeing my primary doctor outside of Memorial Health System at the time, and he was running all sorts of tests trying to figure out what was going on,” recalls Karen. “I told my doctor that I think I need to see a rheumatologist.” Specializing in the diagnosis and management of systemic autoimmune conditions and musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatologists treat patients experiencing conditions such as arthritis, gout, lupus, osteoarthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Unfortunately for Karen, working with her primary care provider to get a referral proved to be more difficult than expected. “I told them I wanted to see a provider with Memorial Health System and they made the referral, but it just wasn’t quick enough for me,” Karen recounts. “I was in so much pain—my feet were three times their normal size and so swollen that I could hardly walk, and my hands were swollen enough that I couldn’t even hold a fork—something had to be done.” Taking matters into her own hands, Karen made the call to Memorial Health System’s Department of Rheumatology herself and was scheduled for an appointment within a week.

From her first appointment with Elyse Blackston, NP, Karen knew that she had made the best choice for her care. “Elyse knew that it was rheumatoid arthritis immediately,” Karen recalls, but receiving care once again proved tricky for Karen.

“She wanted to put me on Humira shots as soon as possible,” recalls Karen, “but Elyse told me it would probably take up to six weeks to get that prescription authorized.” Knowing that her patient needed relief from her painful symptoms as soon as possible, Elyse and her team worked diligently to get Karen prior authorization for her medication. “I don’t think I could’ve waited that long,” Karen says, “so they really came through for me and advocated for me to get my medication that very day.” Within days of receiving her prior authorization and starting treatments, Karen began experiencing relief from her symptoms.

It wasn’t just her rapid diagnosis and treatment of symptoms that made Elyse and her team stand out to Karen, it was also the caliber of care that was provided from day one onwards.

“You couldn’t ask for better people,” Karen states, “and you couldn’t ask for better care.”

For Karen though, what really set the rheumatology team apart is their attention to their patients. “Elyse is very personable,” Karen says, “she takes her patients personally—we aren’t just a number to her. She’s always available and open to answering my text messages.”

Exceptional communication is often an important factor that sets outstanding healthcare providers apart from their peers, and Elyse Blackston appears to have that down in spades. “She’s not just my rheumatologist,” explains Karen, “she’s my friend. Elyse and her team care about their patients.”

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