The ACR will be the Premier Educational Source for Rheumatology Professionals.
The 76th ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting—A Very Successful Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Over 15,000 attendees from more than 100 countries participated in the premier event in the field of rheumatology—the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. Two days featuring eight pre-meeting courses kicked off this year's meeting. The opening lecture was presented by Robert Hicks, PhD, the director of the Mütter Museum/Historical Library/Wood Institute for the History of Medicine, and William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine of Medical History. Dr. Hicks, a scholar of the Civil War, presented and illustrated the various medical advances that came directly from battlefield medicine in the Civil War, including the development of ambulance evacuation and triage systems. Over the next five days, more than 350 scientific sessions and 2,700 abstracts were presented. We look forward to seeing you October 25 – 30, 2013 in San Diego.
Convenient Access to Education
Over 350 hours of educational content from 2012 ACR/ARHP live events such as the State-of the Art Clinical Symposium, Rheumatology Maintenance of Certification Course and ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting were added to SessionSelect in 2012. This online resource now provides convenient, on demand access to over 1,300 hours of rheumatology-specific education. In addition, CME credit was added to ten sessions as a pilot initiative. All members may view and claim CME credit for no charge.
Rheumatology Image Bank Delivers Value
The Rheumatology Image Bank continues to be the most comprehensive and scholarly collection of rheumatology-related images online. Seventy-five new images were added to the Image Bank in 2012. Since its launch in 2009 over 1,000,000 people have accessed the site and have downloaded 41,000 images.
Offering Products and Guidance for ABIM Rheumatology Maintenance of Certification
The ACR continued its commitment to help rheumatologists navigate and complete the American Board of Internal Medicine's Maintenance of Certification requirements. All of the 100 self-evaluation points needed to complete MOC can be earned though ACR's rheumatology-specific online self-assessment tools—CARE and AIM—making the ACR the leader in the design and delivery of MOC modules developed by and for rheumatologists.
CARE 2012 was released in September and by the end of the year had over 400 subscribers. Between all of the available CARE programs, nearly 1,200 new subscriptions were added in 2012.
In 2012, over 100 physicians enrolled in the ACR's complimentary Practice Improvement Modules—AIM: RA and AIM: Gout. Also in 2012, the ACR integrated the AIM: RA module with the Rheumatology Clinical Registry allowing users to enter patient charts into a single system for PQRS reporting and completing a practice improvement module for MOC.
Over 350 attendees participated in the Rheumatology Maintenance of Certification Course and ACR/ABIM Maintenance of Certification Learning Session – 2012 Update in Rheumatology. In addition, the Rheumatology Maintenance of Certification Course was recorded and became available on SessionSelect for purchase. These live interactive courses are designed to help meet the needs of rheumatologists preparing for the ABIM Rheumatology MOC Exam and to promote physicians' lifelong learning.
Tailoring Educational Offerings to Meet the Continuous Professional Development Needs of Members
The 2012 educational offerings provided members with quality targeted learning opportunities that responded to identified practice gaps and members' educational needs. Several meetings were offered to achieve this goal.
The ACR's Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists – Fundamentals was held twice in 2012. Under the guidance of expert faculty from around the world, attendees performed hands-on scanning of live models to enhance technical proficiency for the diagnosis of normal and abnormal clinical conditions. The Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists with Interventional Cadaver Workshop – Intermediate was debuted. This comprehensive three-day course was designed to meet the educational needs of rheumatologists experienced in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound who want to expand their knowledge and skills. In addition, thirty trainers successfully completed the intense eight-month Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Train-the-Trainer program.
The 2012 Winter Rheumatology Symposium hosted over 170 physicians, fellows-in-training and health professionals, and the 2012 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium welcomed over 450 attendees including over 150 fellows-in- training.
Providing Certification to Help with Demonstration of Competency in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology
In 2012 the ACR launched certification program for musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology at the 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. – Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Certification in Rheumatology or RhMSUSTM. This is a voluntary program in which physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who perform ultrasound as part of their practice in rheumatology will be able to demonstrate competence to patients, peers, and payers/insurers. The program also promotes quality of care and patient safety and helps rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals develop professional skills that are relevant in the workplace. The first examination period will be held for four weeks starting in May 2013 with applications being accepted beginning in late February 2013. The second examination period will be held for four weeks running from mid-October to mid-November. All of those who meet the requirements and pass the examination will be able to use the credential RhMSUSTM after their names and their certification will be valid for 10 years. The first class of certified individuals will be published on the ACR website by July 2013.
The Lupus Initiative Offers Free Resources
In 2012, the ACR's Lupus Initiative expanded its continuing medical education offerings to include a third CME activity, Diagnosing Lupus-Related Skin Manifestations in Diverse Populations, to the resources currently available at thelupusinitiative.org. Through exhibits and direct-mail requests, TLI also distributed more than 1,000 toolkits to rheumatologists, PCPs and other medical and health professionals.
Educational Products and Programs Tailored for Rheumatology Health Professionals
The online Advanced Rheumatology Course continues its success. In 2012, 118 participants registered for the course, an increase of 24 percent from 2011. Of those registrants, 72 participants completed the course in 2012. This online course allows participants a flexible, affordable way to build competence in the care of people with rheumatic diseases, while providing CME. Each year, three of the 19 modules are revised to keep the course relevant. In 2012, the Musculoskeletal Imaging Studies, Crystal-induced Arthropathies, and Spondylarthropathies modules were revised.
On October 15, 2012, the ACR launched a new online offering called the Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course. The online program meets the needs of those transitioning into rheumatology practice such as nurses, medical assistants, licensed practical nurses and office managers, staff or other clinicians looking to adapt and develop their skills to support the multi-faceted care and management of persons with rheumatology. The five modules, offered for contact hours, are Overview of Rheumatic Disease, Assessment and Management of the Adult with Rheumatic Disease, Assessment and Management of the Child with Rheumatic Disease, Nursing Management of the Infusion Patient, and Insurance Preauthorization. As of January 10, 2013, 24 registrants purchased 72 modules.
Publishing Journal Content that is Paving the Way for Therapy and Cure
Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research continued to attract and publish top-tier clinical and basic research that is useful for those who treat patients and those who are working toward discovery of improved therapies or cures for rheumatic diseases.
The journals published landmark articles that were the culmination of the efforts of ACR committees, including updated criteria for the classification of Sjögren's syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica, and recommendations for the management of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus nephritis, and gout and for the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology.
Authors from over 50 nations submitted their work to the journals.
Groundbreaking research published in Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research was reported on by CBS News, ABC News, and other major outlets.
Within the first eight months of 2012, there were over two million downloads of full-text articles from Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research.