Important Changes to AIM:RA

ACR is upgrading and streamlining the AIM: RA program to provide members with enhanced data reporting and an improved user experience.

The AIM:RA program will be completely integrated into the ACR’s Rheumatology Clinical Registry (RCR) in 2011. During this rollout period, the best pathway to complete AIM:RA will depend on the status of individual users (new vs. returning), as described below.

Providers with questions or special circumstances should contact Katie Duggan, Specialist, Continuous Professional Development, at (404) 633-3777ext. 338 or at .

New AIM:RA Users:

If you have not yet started your AIM:RA data entry process you have two options:

1) Register for RCR and select AIM:RA

  • Complete the RCR registration process.
  • RCR users will be able to enter charts for PQRI reporting and/or for the chart abstraction phases of the AIM:RA program (completion of AIM: RA results in ABIM MOC credit)
  • Note: AIM:RA chart entry can take place immediately but AIM:RA required surveys and reporting will not be available until early November. Users will not be able to move past the chart entry phase in AIM:RA until that time.

OR

2) Register for AIM: RA

  • Complete the AIM: RA registration process here.
  • AIM:RA users will be able to complete this program for ABIM MOC credit. The full program is available now.
  • Note: AIM:RA users will not be able to have charts entered into the AIM:RA program transferred to the RCR program to participate in PQRI. This option remains available for those who need to complete AIM by February 2012 and who do not want to participate in PQRI.

Current AIM:RA Users:

If you have already registered for AIM:RA and started your data entry process in that program you will need to complete all of your steps and requirements through the AIM:RA program. You will not experience any changes and will continue to work and login to the AIM:RA program .

AIM: Gout

The AIM: Gout program has not changed and is continuing to exist as a separate product.
» More information or register

Reasons for the Updates:

AIM:RA data entry has been integrated into the new Rheumatologic Clinical Registry (RCR) RA reporting form. This integration helps ensure that:

  • Participating members are able to realize maximal benefits of each case entered, including for:
    • AIM reporting
    • CMS PQRI reporting
    • CMS E-prescribing reporting
    • Local improvement initiatives
  • Updates and measure maintenance are synchronized with the efforts of the ACR Committee on Quality of Care and Committee on Registries and Health Information Technology
  • ACR is well positioned for the increasing alignment of MOC with federal quality reporting programs

ACR Contacts:

AIM:RA

Katie Duggan
Specialist, Continuous Professional Development
404-633-3777 ext. 338

RCR

Itara Barnes
Senior Specialist, Registries and Health Informatics
404-633-3777 ext. 819

AIM RA:
Assess • Improve • Measure

Due to changes in the recertification policies of the American Board of Internal Medicine, practice improvement modules, or PIMs, are required for an increasing number of physicians enrolled in the ABIM Maintenance of Certification program. The MOC program requires physicians to obtain a total of 100 points to recertify. Twenty points must be obtained through a self-evaluation of practice performance module.

The ACR is pleased to offer Assess, Improve, Measure, or AIM, the new practice improvement module, which focuses on rheumatoid arthritis.

AIM is a Web-based self-evaluation of practice performance tool that provides guidance through medical chart abstraction of de-identified data. Each question in the AIM template relates directly to evidence-based quality measures and provides a cumulative, automated data report enabling physicians to:

  • Reflect on practice performance data
  • Identify practice strengths and areas for improvement
  • Develop and implement an improvement plan
  • Assess impact of practice changes through chart re-measurement
  • Report changes

Equipped with comprehensive data reports and templates for the development of the physician improvement plan and impact statement, AIM is designed for physicians engaged in the ABIM Maintenance of Certification program or those interested in completing a quality improvement program.

Note that while AIM may take 3-4 months to complete, you may sit for the ABIM secure examination before or after completing the required 100 points. For additional information or with any questions, contact the ACR at , or (404) 633-3777, ext. 338.

Register for AIM:RA

Cost

AIM is free and available for ACR Members and Non Members

Note: The Demonstration Module has been created without the workflow requirements enabling a review of each component of AIM without completing the previous section. The actual program does not work this way.

AIM offers up to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 20 self-evaluation of practice performance points in the MOC program.

To receive ABIM MOC points towards recertification, you MUST be enrolled with the ABIM prior to beginning the module. If you’re not currently enrolled in the MOC program or have questions about the program, visit ABIM.

For additional information or with any questions, contact the ACR at , or (404) 633-3777, ext. 338.

RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2007, reviewed September 2009

EXPIRATION DATE: July 1, 2012 (this program will be re-reviewed at this time to be renewed)

Activity Description

AIM, the first ACR practice improvement module, is a Web-based self-evaluation of practice performance tool that provides guidance through medical chart abstraction of de-identified data. Each question in AIM relates directly to evidence-based quality measures and provides an automated cumulative data report enabling physicians to:

  • Reflect on practice performance data
  • Identify practice strengths and areas for improvement
  • Develop and implement an improvement plan
  • Assess impact of changes through chart re-measurement
  • Report changes

Target Audience

The target audience for this activity is physicians who are seeking a quality improvement tool or those engaged in the ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification program.

AIM Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • assess current practice performance through the analysis of patient data
  • design a specific improvement plan to address identified performance gaps
  • implement a conscious performance improvement in the identified measures using developed strategies with appropriate patients, in daily practice
  • critically assess the effectiveness of performance improvement efforts

AIM Educational Objectives

AIM will allow physicians to assess their practice performance via chart audits, enable physicians to develop and implement an improvement plan based on areas identified for improvement, and complete a re-measurement to assess impact of changes. Physicians will evaluate their experience and complete the impact statement, signifying the completion of the module.

About the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)

The ACR is an organization of physicians, health professionals and scientists serving members through programs, including education and research. Through educational programs, the ACR fosters excellence in the care of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. This activity is sponsored by the ACR for educational purposes only. Assess, Improve, Measure or AIM was planned and implemented under the supervision of the ACR’s Committee on Education, the ACR Continuing Professional Development Subcommittee, and the Practice Improvement Module Development Faculty.

Accreditation Statement

The American College of Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

DESIGNATION STATEMENT

The ACR designates this PI CME for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AIM: Rheumatoid Arthritis was released on March 1, 2007, reviewed in September 2009.

AIM: Rheumatoid Arthritis expires on February 28, 2013.

How to Obtain CME Credits

To receive CME credit for this activity you must complete each component of the AIM template and complete the CME activity evaluation. After completing the activity evaluation, your CME certificate will be available to download and print from your computer.

The CME certificate will also be available in the Reports link at the top navigation bar.

This activity will take up to 20 hours to complete.

ACR Disclaimers

Use of Professional Judgment

AIM, including all educational links and accompanying templates, is intended to be used as a tool to assess practice performance. The information presented relates to evidence-based quality indicators. Quality indicators as identified present the minimum standards of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and in no way are meant to substitute for an individual patient assessment based upon the healthcare provider’s examination of the patient and consideration of laboratory data and other factors unique to the patient.

Drugs and Doses

When prescribing medications, the physician is advised to check the product information sheet accompanying each drug to verify conditions of use and to identify any changes in drug dosage schedule of contraindications.

ACR Disclosure

The American College of Rheumatology is an independent, professional organization that does not endorse specific procedures or products of any pharmaceutical/biotech concern.

ACR Policy on Privacy

Read the ACR Policy on Privacy

ACR System Requirements

Browser

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer V5.01 and higher (IE 5.5 or higher recommended)

Operating System

  • Windows (recommended)
  • Macintosh

Internet Connection

  • Broadband connection (DSL, cable or T1) recommended
  • While it is in the best interest of participants to take the exam through a broadband connection (DSL, cable or T1) rather than through a much slower dial-up connection, it is not an absolute requirement. Please realize that a dial-up connection may slow down the examination process.

Screen Resolution

  • 800 x 600 or better
  • 1024 x 768 is preferred

AIM: Rheumatoid Arthritis Practice Improvement Module Development Faculty

Audrey B. Uknis, MD, Chair
Alan L. Epstein, MD
Alan K. Matsumoto, MD
Stuart J. Schneller, MD
John RP Tesser, MD

View professional affiliation and disclosure information