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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Articles by From the College

2011 Legislative Outlook Important for Rheumatology

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Next year is shaping up to be an important year for rheumatology on Capitol Hill. Issues that remain unresolved by the last Congress include concerns within the Affordable Care Act, the need for a stable Medicare system with fair physician reimbursement, funding for the pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program, and appropriate reimbursement for specialty care. Most congressional leaders, newly elected or re-elected, know very little about arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. That is why it is critical that rheumatology professionals reach out and educate them on the importance of specialty care and the impact these diseases have on one’s quality of life. 

Comprehensive Rheumatology Training

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Are you looking for a better rheumatology-focused, on-the-job training program for a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or other clinician? Do you and your colleagues want to continue building competence in the care of people with rheumatic disease? The Advanced Rheumatology Course may be just what you need.

Practice Page: Improving Patient Flow

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Two techniques you can use to improve patient flow are flow mapping and cycle-time measurement. Flow mapping requires practice staff to walk through the practice and take notes about what a patient experiences during a visit. This allows you to understand the flow from the patient’s point of view. Key things to record are experiences and impressions of the practice from start to finish, such as observations of customer service, right down to the paperwork and equipment used.

Practice Page: What PQRI Means to Rheumatologists

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The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PRQI) is a voluntary quality reporting program initiated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2007. CMS provides bonus payments to eligible providers who successfully report on applicable PQRI measures. For 2010, rheumatologists who successfully participate in PQRI can earn an incentive payment of 2% of the…

Maximize Your Annual Meeting Experience

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Get the most out of your ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting learning experience and view, download, or print the syllabi from this year’s sessions. Speakers have prepared notes, provided key references, and outlined important details from their presentations, and we have made it all available to you at www.rheumatology.org/education. Just click the “Electronic Syllabus” link in the Itinerary Builder for instant access 24 hours a day.