What an exciting year 2010 has been for the ARHP! We have made amazing progress in education, collaboration, and charting the ARHP’s future. To help you understand what the ARHP leadership and staff are doing on your behalf, I would like to share a few of our accomplishments from the past year.
Achievements in Education
In the area of education, the ARHP moved its education staff to the ACR to integrate and streamline the work of our face-to-face educational offerings. This allowed for the awarding of CME credit for ARHP sessions at the 2010 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting.
At this year’s annual meeting, the ARHP will offer a preconference course on biologic infusions, 62 interprofessional sessions, and 115 abstracts to advance the knowledge of clinical care and research for rheumatology health professionals. This represents one of the largest programs the ARHP has offered in recent years.
For the first time in 10 years, the ARHP will offer four hands-on workshops based on the highly successful Advanced Practice Skills Training Course. These workshops are two hours and will provide hands-on training in Adult Musculoskeletal Assessment of Upper/Lower Extremities, Pediatric Musculoskeletal Assessment of Upper/Lower Extremities, Joint Injections of Knee/Ankle, and Joint Injections of Shoulder/Wrist.
Our online Advanced Rheumatology Course, formerly the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Postgraduate Rheumatology Training Program, continues to be successful with 235 new registrants and 121 graduates. The course is currently under revision, and we will revise three modules per year over the next six years. The modules will also be priced for individual sale, and we hope to broaden our reach beyond the nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant community. Also, we have begun work on a Fundamentals in Rheumatology Course. This online course will consist of five modules providing information on rheumatology, assessment, management, biologic infusion, and pre-authorization of medications. It is due for an online launch in 2012.
In addition, our Research and Practice Committees have worked diligently all year to provide online resources on outcomes measurement and practice tools for the membership. Check out the website at www.rheumatology.org to see what is available under practice management, clinical support, and patient resources.
To recognize those members who are excelling in the education of health professional students, the ARHP has added the Master Educator Award to its Mentor Award portfolio. This recognition will be presented with all ACR and ARHP awards during the Annual Scientific Meeting opening lecture, so don’t miss it!
Achievements in Collaboration
In the area of collaboration, the ARHP has been working with health professional members of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) to create educational sessions at the ARHP and EULAR meetings in 2010 and 2011. The November 10 session in Atlanta, “Patient Participation in Research,” will highlight our international colleagues’ work with patients in creating and performing research projects. We hope to continue working with our colleagues across the ocean to create additional annual meeting educational offerings.
Also, several ARHP members have been working on a health professional chapter for the online book, The Business Side of Rheumatology Practice, due to launch this month. The health professional chapter will be added to the original book in 2011, and will provide new rheumatologists information on the scope of practice, educational training, and other topics regarding nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, and other clinicians.
Achievements in Planning
In 2009, the ARHP participated in the ACR’s strategic planning, which set the ACR’s goals and strategies for 2010–2012. This important process allowed the ACR to discuss and understand the future needs of its membership and to plan resources to meet those needs. We are currently proposing further integration with ACR committees to increase our voice and decrease redundancies of work throughout the ACR.
Looking Toward 2011
Given these achievements, we don’t plan on resting on our laurels in the coming year. The 2011 ARHP president, Nadine James, RN, MSN, PhD, will lead the team of ARHP volunteers and staff in moving forward on our online educational products and developing the 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting. The ARHP will also be looking into the creation of other face-to-face educational offerings and practice tools.
On a personal note, I want to express my appreciation for the opportunity to represent ARHP members as your 2010 president. It has been an awesome experience to work with so many talented health professionals who serve on our ARHP committees, subcommittees, and task forces. I have learned a great deal about the organization, the ACR, and about myself. I have solidified professional collaborations, deepened friendships, and had tremendous fun working with everyone. Most of all, I have gained a profound respect for the dedicated ARHP staff who provide the continuity for the work of our organization.
It has been a fabulous year!
Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, is president of ARHP and a clinical research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Contact her at [email protected].
