This page houses information about the projects the ACR is working on with other organizations, to better inform the medical community, the Legislature, and the public about the importance of rheumatology and the impact of rheumatic diseases.

Osteoarthritis Awareness Campaign | Lupus Awareness Campaign | U.S. Bone & Joint Decade | FOCIS | OMERACT | Partnership for Prescription Assistance | ADCC | Lupus Federal Working Group | Quality Issues

ACR Lupus Initiative

The ACR's Lupus Initiative is a multi-faceted educational program designed to reduce disparities in the delivery of health care to patients with lupus. The Initiative is designed to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of lupus in patient populations disproportionately affected based on race, ethnicity, and gender through the education of medical professionals in training and in practice. To learn more about the Initiative, click here.

ACR Blue Ribbon Panel on Academic Rheumatology

In 2012, the ACR convened a Blue Ribbon Panel charged with assessing the current state of academic rheumatology in the US and identifying specific areas for attention and investment by the College. The charge put forward to this group was to assess the current state of academic rheumatology in the US and make recommendations to ensure its success in the future. After conducting a comprehensive analysis, the task force developed a list of the top ten critical issues in academic rheumatology in the US, and submitted a detailed report to the Board of Directors containing specific recommendations to address each issue. You may review the report in its entirety by clicking here.

ACR RA Clinical Trials Task Force

The ACR is revising the FDA's guidance document for clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis—last updated in 1999. After meeting with the FDA in September, three priority areas were identified for expedited revision. For complete information on the priority areas, visit the task force information page..

Osteoarthritis Awareness Campaign

The ACR is pleased to partner with the Arthritis Foundation and the Ad Council on a national osteoarthritis awareness campaign. Read more

HHS Office of Women’s Health National Lupus Awareness Campaign: "Could I Have Lupus?"

The ACR is pleased to announce its involvement as a collaborating partner on the HHS Office of Women’s Health national lupus awareness campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise public awareness to improve early diagnosis and treatment among those who are at increased risk for the disease. The campaign is targeted toward young minority women and will provide them with information to help them take action if they have symptoms. Read more.

U.S. Bone & Joint Initiative

TThe ACR is a member of the USBJI, whose mission is to provide national leadership and coordination of activities in the United States as part of the worldwide Bone and Joint Decade movement to improve patient care, to promote research and to advance understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. For more information, visit www.usbji.org.

Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies

The vision of FOCIS is to bring clinical immunologists from a variety of disciplines together to learn and share ideas about research and treatment of immune-mediated diseases. The ACR is a society member of FOCIS therefore, we have a representative on the FOCIS Steering Committee, whose responsibilities include planning the FOCIS annual meeting. For more information, visit www.focisnet.org.

OMERACT

An ACR representative attends biannual OMERACT meetings. Dedicated to Outcome Measures in Rheumatology, OMERACT was formed in 1992 in The Netherlands. Since then, the OMERACT initiative has turned into an international informal network of working groups and gatherings interested in outcome measurement across the spectrum of rheumatology intervention studies. For more information, visit www.omeract.org.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. The ACR is one of many organizations collaborating on this program. Visit www.pparx.org for more information, or to access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee (ADCC)

The NIH established the ADCC in 1998, under the direction of the NIAID, to facilitate collaboration among NIH components, other Federal agencies, and private organizations with an interest in autoimmune diseases. The Chair of the ACR Committee on Research participates in the ADCC efforts.

Lupus Federal Working Group

Recently established by the NIH, to facilitate collaboration among NIH components, other Federal agencies, and private organizations with an interest in lupus. The COR chair has participated in the group’s efforts.

Quality Issues

The ACR is enthusiastic about working with other organizations in the area of quality achievement in health care. Learn More

International League of Associations for Rheumatology

The International League of Associations for Rheumatology's mission is to advance rheumatology in developing countries. The ILAR Executive Committee consists of the Presidents and Presidents-Elect of ACR, EULAR, PANLAR, APLAR and AFLAR. The collaboration of the leaders of these international organizations has resulted in a renewed commitment to support programs that lead to progress in the practice and education of rheumatology in countries where there is an exceptional need. For more information, visit www.ilar.org.