Rheumatology Consultants

Rheumatology Consultants is the private practice of Steven J. Klein, M.D., F.A.C.R.Rheumatology Consultants was started in 1985 as a private rheumatology practice and in 1994 expanded to include comprehensive osteoporosis care when Dr. Klein relocated from southern California to join the practice. With the acquisition of a Hologic QDR 1000 DXA Scanner in 1994, The Osteoporosis Center was opened in Hagerstown. Because of the success of The Osteoporosis Center in Hagerstown we have formed The Osteoporosis and Clinical Trials Center, which opened a second office in Cumberland, Maryland in July 1996, now staffed by 4 study coordinators. To keep pace with technology we currently have two GE Lunar Prodigy DXA systems. Since 1995 we have participated in many phase II and phase III clinical trials. To date our areas of study have focused on Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Gout, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis in women and men, Osteopenia and Steroid Induced Osteoporosis. Clinical research organizations we have worked with include Kendle, MTRA, Parexel, PPD and Quintiles. Sponsors we have participated with include Abbott, AutoImmune, Boehringer Mannheim, Eli Lilly, G.D. Searle, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Hyal Pharmaceutical, NPS Allelix, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble and Roche.Today, Rheumatology Consultants is the sole provider of rheumatologic and comprehensive osteoporosis care in Western Maryland, with offices in Hagerstown and Cumberland. Our practice is unique in that we draw our patient population from a tri-state area (Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) with a population of approximately 500,000 people. The area has a large elderly population, which is reflected in our rheumatology practice as a whole, where the patient ratio is approximately 2:1 female:male.Dr. Klein has been instrumental in developing and implementing strict quality control standards for all bone densitometry services provided in the Centers, with particular emphasis placed on ensuring accurate and precise baseline and follow-up scans. He is a member of The American Society for Bone Mineral Research and The National Osteoporosis Foundation. We firmly believe that the location of our practice plays a significant role in our growth and success in clinical trial enrollment. Our expansion to Cumberland is particularly exciting because we are able to offer state of the art technology and study participation opportunities to a historically under-served population in that city and to all points west including West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania.