ACR on Air Podcast

This month we’re giving you a preview of ACR Convergence 2020, the ACR’s annual meeting, which will be held November 5–9 in an all-virtual environment. Our host chats with Vicki Shanmugam, MD, and Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, about the shift to a virtual event this year, what’s changing and staying the same, must-attend sessions, including special COVID-19 discussions, and what participants can expect from this all-encompassing experience.

Speaker Vicki Shanmugam, MD - Vicki Shanmugam, MD, is Director of the George Washington University Division of Rheumatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. A native of London, she has an active clinical practice caring for patients with autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Her research interests include the interplay between the host immune response in the wound bed microbiome in patients with Hidradenitis along with targeted biologic therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Scleroderma. Dr. Shanmugam currently serves as Chair of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee for the ACR.

Speaker Swamy Venuturupalli, MD - Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, is the founder of Attune Health which is based in Los Angeles. He is dedicated to taking care of patients and conducting research that aims to find cures for rheumatic diseases. During his career, he has been involved in over 150 clinical trials of cutting-edge therapies for illnesses such as inflammatory muscle disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. Dr. Venuturupalli currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee for the ACR.

Resources:

• ACR Convergence 2020
• ACR Convergence Program
• Global Rheumatology Alliance
• ACR Convergence Registration

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September is Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month, RDAM for short, and in this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Kanika Monga about a few of the 100+ rheumatic diseases, the 54 million Americans with a rheumatic condition, and the results of a nationwide patient survey. RDAM is hosted every September by the American College of Rheumatology and its Simple Tasks™ awareness campaign.

Speaker Kanika Monga - Kanika Monga, MD, is a member of the American College of Rheumatology’s Communication and Marketing Committee. She completed her internship and residency training at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston and performed her fellowship in rheumatology there as well. Dr. Monga’s interests include medical journalism and patient advocacy. She has also done research on work disability and spondyloarthritis. She also has a special interest in media, radio and providing overall awareness and understanding of rheumatology and rheumatic diseases.

Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Statistics for Rheumatic Disease
• ACR Convergence 2020
• ACR COVID-19 Guidances
• Simple Tasks – Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month
• Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month 2020 Survey Results
• Osteoarthritis Patient Fact Sheet
• Lupus Patient Fact Sheet
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Fact Sheet
• Rheumatology Workforce Shortage Study
• Advocates for Arthritis
• Step Therapy

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ACR on Air is back for Season 2 with a very important topic for the rheumatology specialty. Listen as our host chats with Dr. Lisa Sammaritano and Dr. Ware Branch about reproductive health for patients with rheumatic diseases.

Speaker Lisa Sammaritano - Lisa Sammaritano, MD, joined Hospital for Special Surgery in 1988, when she began her fellowship in rheumatic diseases. She maintains a busy clinical practice and participates in clinical research geared towards patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid antibodies. She has a particular interest and expertise in reproductive issues in rheumatic disease patients, including contraception and pregnancy. She is also a Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and an Attending Physician at Hospital for Special Surgery, as well as the Director of the Rheumatology Reproductive Health Program at the Barbara Volcker Center at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Speaker D. Ware Branch - is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist who treats high-risk pregnancy patients. He is internationally recognized for his research and focus on special interests within his specialty, including antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), thrombotic disorders in pregnancy, and recurrent pregnancy loss. He has been in practice as a high-risk pregnancy physician since 1985 when he graduated from the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at the University of Utah, the same program he now directs for the University of Utah School of Medicine. He is currently a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah and the Medical Director of Women and Newborn Clinical Program for the Urban Central Region of Intermountain Healthcare.

Resources:

• Reproductive Health in Rheumatic Diseases Guideline:
• COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance
• Combined Oral Contraceptives in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - The SELENA Study
• American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations of LARCS for Adolescents
• ACR Convergence 2020
• ACR COVID-19 Guidances

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals have found themselves in an unprecedented situation where the rise of telehealth has been key to treating their patients. In this episode of ACR on Air, our host will speak with two experts, Jay Mehta. MD, MS, and Antanya Chung, CPC, CPC-I CRHC, CCP, ACR staff director of practice management, about telehealth best practices.

Speaker Jay Mehta - Jay Mehta, MD, MS, is an attending physician with the division of rheumatology and the pediatric rheumatology fellowship program director at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is currently a member of the ACR’s COVID-19 Practice and Advocacy Task Force where he helps drive the telehealth efforts, and he is also the chair of the ACR’s Pediatric Special Committee.

Speaker Antanya Chung - Antanya Chung, CPC, CPC-I CRHC, CCP, is the director of practice management for the American College of Rheumatology. In this staff role, she is responsible for provide broad-based support and expertise on a range of physician payment, coding/billing, and coverage issues. Ms. Chung is a staff liaison on the ACR’s COVID-19 Practice and Advocacy Task Force for telehealth coding and billing resources.

Resources:

• Telehealth Quick Reference Guide
• Telehealth Vendor Options
• Telehealth Provider Fact Sheet
• Patient Resource: How to Navigate Telehealth
• All ACR Telehealth Resources

Experiencing COVID-19 related drug shortages, practice issues, or any other problems? Send your comments and questions to COVID@rheumatology.org.
Please note that the ACR is membership organization representing rheumatologists and rheumatology healthcare professionals. However, we do not have rheumatologists / rheumatology professionals on staff to provide medical advice or prescribe medications. The ACR does not prescribe or sell medications to health care providers, patients or organizations.

The special COVID-19 series continues with a discussion on how to keep your practice going during this pandemic. Our host chats with Chris Phillips, MD, who runs a solo practice in Kentucky, and Dan Redinger, the ACR’s staff manager of advocacy and political affairs, who is keeping his eye on the federal COVID-19 stimulus package. Listen as they share best practices and tips for healthcare providers during this unprecedented time.

Speaker Chris Phillips - Chris Phillips, MD, is board certified physician in internal medicine and rheumatology in Paducah, Kentucky. He founded Paducah Rheumatology practice in 2010. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and serves as chair of the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee, as well as serving on the ACR’s COVID-19 Practice and Advocacy Task Force.

Speaker Dan Redinger - is the manager of advocacy and political affairs for the American College of Rheumatology. In this staff role, he is responsible for advancing RheumPAC as well as fostering ACR/ARP member engagement in the College’s advocacy efforts. He graduated from Davidson College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a concentration in mathematics.

Resources:

• ACR Guidance on the CARES Act Provider Aid Disbursement
• ACR Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program
• Telehealth
• ACR Infusion Guidance
• ACR Discusses Economic Support for Practices  
• Suggestions from the American College of Rheumatology for Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to Navigate Telehealth

Experiencing COVID-19 related drug shortages, practice issues, or any other problems? Send your comments and questions to COVID@rheumatology.org.
Please note that the ACR is membership organization representing rheumatologists and rheumatology healthcare professionals. However, we do not have rheumatologists / rheumatology professionals on staff to provide medical advice or prescribe medications. The ACR does not prescribe or sell medications to health care providers, patients or organizations.