Director, Unit Of Rheumathology Alexandra Balbir MD Head Nurse Naomi Schultz

The Rheumatology Department cares for patients with different rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis, myositis, Sjogren’s syndrome), Behcet’s disease, familial Mediterranean fever, degenerative joint diseases and crystal induced joint diseases (gout, pseudogout).  The department has extensive experience in treating patients with collagen diseases and internal organ complications (lung and heart involvement in collagen diseases, pulmonary hypertension due to collagen disease, Raynaud’s syndrome).

Treatments provided by the department include intravenous drug therapies, injections into the joints, use of second line drugs (DMARD’s), and physical and occupational therapy. In addition, the department team provides immediate diagnosis of joint/tendon disease and joint/tendon injections using a portable ultrasound device.

The holistic approach embraced by the department enables patients to receive comprehensive treatment in the framework of the consulting clinic as well as during hospitalization in the department. This approach is particularly important for patients with collagen diseases, where many other metabolic systems and organs are involved.

The department team has extensive training and experience in the use of biologic agents and is a center for promoting new biological treatments such as anti- TNF drugs, anti CD-20 antibodies, blocking of 6-IL, and others.

In parallel to their work at Rambam Healthcare Center, the senior department physicians provide consulting services to the community clinics of the various HMOs.

The department is an integral part of the Technion's Faculty of Medicine and students from Israel and abroad train here. It is nationally recognized for its specialization in rheumatology and is a center for specialization training for physicians from departments of internal medicine, community physicians and interns.

In addition to its ongoing activities, the department is involved in numerous research projects, focusing mainly on scleroderma and joint inflammation.