Auckland Rheumatology and Sports Medicine is a rheumatology clinic on Great South Road in Greenlane, run by Dr Ravi Suppiah, a specialist with international fellowship training. It treats conditions from rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to giant cell arteritis, gout and fibromyalgia. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is used routinely here, for diagnosis, monitoring and guiding injections, and the clinic runs an acute giant cell arteritis service built on vascular ultrasound. It also offers biologic infusions, iron and zoledronic acid infusions, and needle muscle biopsies, a smaller procedure with a quicker recovery than an open biopsy.
A referral from a GP, specialist, physio or other health professional is needed first, and Dr Suppiah sets the priority of each referral, so urgent cases such as giant cell arteritis are seen first. Most insurers and ACC also need one for costs to be covered. The clinic is an affiliated provider to Southern Cross and a nib first choice provider, and it handles pre-approvals and claims. Its Inflam Blueprint is an eight-week online programme with video lessons on nutrition, sleep, movement and flare management. Regular reviews and blood tests are part of care for the long-term conditions treated here.