As a first-year internal medicine resident, I find myself consulting rheumatologists for just about every mystery patient in our hospital. Like many residents, I was initially intimidated by the complexity of this elusive field. At first glance, diagnosis and management seem completely inaccessible to a first-year resident. But several rheumatology consults later, I can confidently…
With extensive clinical trial data being published daily, how does a rheumatologist stay up to date on latest breakthroughs? Rheumatologists can leverage multiple online resources to stay informed and apply information to patient care…
In 2005, an ACR Workforce Study estimated the adult rheumatology workforce to be 4,946 providers and projected growth of only 1.2% by 2025, resulting in a projected deficit of 2,576 rheumatologists considering the estimated need. According to the 2015 Workforce Study, between 2005 and 2015, the percentage of internal medicine residents entering rheumatology has remained…
Think back to your time as a trainee. Do you remember an interaction with a consultant in which you learned something, felt your opinion was heard, were empowered to collaborate with the consulting team and knew you were providing outstanding care? We suspect a number of examples come to mind, regardless of the amount of…
Milestones are at the core of the current system designed to evaluate medical residency and fellowship programs and their participants. But are all milestones meaningful for medical education? This idea was at the center of a debate during the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, during which speakers explored the advantages and drawbacks of using training milestones for rheumatology fellowships…
Education is a vital component of what the ACR provides to rheumatology professionals around the world, and the ACR’s commitment to continually expand options to access the latest science and medical education is critical to all involved in the specialty. This dedication is reflected in the ACR’s new mission, vision and brand promise, all of…
During the two or three short years of a rheumatology fellowship, there is so much to learn: the subtle art of the musculoskeletal examination, the intricacies of the immune system and the indications for a dizzyingly increasing array of new medications, to name just a few topics. One topic that you rarely hear about, but…
Advocacy efforts in the medical profession are evolving as technology evolves. The rise of social media, in particular, has brought about great change in the way organizations, such as the ACR, interact with Congress. At the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Nov. 3–8 in San Diego, former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) will discuss how to continue…
Efficiently meeting the needs of people with rheumatic disease requires the expertise of a team of health professionals. During their formal education, health professionals acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes that prepare them to best contribute to a healthcare team. Maintaining and expanding that knowledge happens during continuing education and post-graduate programs, which ensure lifelong…
NEW YORK (Reuters)—Makers of fast-acting opioids will have to fund voluntary training for healthcare professionals who prescribe the drugs, including education on safe prescribing practices and non-opioid alternatives, the course said on Thursday. The FDA sent letters to 74 manufacturers of immediate-release opioids, notifying them that they will have to fund the development of courses…