During an ACR webinar in August, presenters discussed multiple aspects of telehealth in rheumatology, especially related to rheumatology fellowship training. They agreed that although telehealth represents one potential avenue to improve patient access to treatment for rheumatic disease, we must keep identifying the best ways to employ telehealth to enhance care. Impact of Pandemic Telemedicine…
Are you happy? This may be a question born of the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, I used to quote William Osler, MD, who simultaneously founded the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and created the modern system of medical education. He opined: The practice of medicine will be very much as you make it—to one,…
In his new role as the 86th president of the ACR, Douglas White, MD, PhD, is excited about the opportunities to serve and energize the organization and members in the coming year.
Kori Dewing, ARNP, DNP, has been working in healthcare since high school. As she begins her term as president of the ARP, she is building on nearly two decades of volunteer experience with the ARP and ACR to continue supporting rheumatology professionals and advancing the College’s values of inclusion, collaboration and community.
Tongue Twister 12-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with Moebius syndrome a year earlier presented for evaluation of progressive tongue hemiatrophy that was causing her difficulty with eating and speaking. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain demonstrated tongue hemiatrophy without involvement of the hypoglossal nerve. A tongue biopsy showed atrophy of skeletal muscle, variably…
The Rheumatologist (TR) premiered in 2006, with its first full year of publication in 2007. In the 15 years since, it has sought to provide clinicians, researchers and healthcare providers with the most stimulating and educational content found in the field of rheumatology. The responsibility for achieving this mission has been borne by just three…
PHILADELPHIA—Abraham Verghese, MD, best-selling author and infectious disease specialist, told a packed hall at the opening ceremony of ACR Convergence that he didn’t need to look far to find heroes not much different from the protagonists he has written about in his novels, which blend medical mystery with the passions and tragedies of human existence….
PHILADELPHIA—Approximately 100 research abstracts on axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were accepted for presentation at ACR Convergence 2022. It is exciting to see a wealth of research on axSpA being undertaken worldwide. Here, we highlight important points from 10 of these studies. 1. Abstract 0378: Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Patients Treated for Chronic Back Pain…
PHILADELPHIA—Approximately 60 research abstracts on gout were accepted for presentation at ACR Convergence 2022, including two plenary abstract presentations. It is exciting to see a wealth of research on gout being undertaken worldwide. Here, we highlight important points from seven of these studies. 1. Abstract 1810: Frequency and Patterns of Opioid Use in the Management…
PHILADELPHIA—At the first Plenary Session of ACR Convergence 2022, on Saturday, Nov. 12, speakers shared key research findings on the efficacy and safety of methotrexate as a co-therapy with pegloticase in refractory gout, the effectiveness of rituximab and cyclophosphamide in connective tissue disease associated-interstitial lung disease and the value of remote education for primary care…
During ACR Convergence 2022 in early November, the ACR honored a group of individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care by announcing the recipients of the ACR’s 2022 Awards of Distinction, as well as the 2022 ACR Masters, recognized for their contributions to the field. See the November issue…
In a post hoc analysis of two clinical trials, Maassen et al. demonstrated that 40% of patients with early RA or undifferentiated arthritis experienced disease flare after primary glucocorticoid discontinuation despite background treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs.
Recognition as an ACR Master is one of the highest honors the College bestows. The designation of Master is conferred on ACR members, age 65 or older by Oct. 1 of the year in which they are nominated, who have made outstanding contributions to the ACR and the field of rheumatology through scholarly achievement and/or…
Editor’s note: In November, the ACR honored Joel M. Kremer, MD, MACR, president of the Corrona Research Foundation, with its Distinguished Clinical Investigator Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology as a clinical scientist (see story here). As the founder of the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America (CORRONA, now known…
At the AMA House of Delegates meeting in November, the ACR’s delegation will lead over a dozen cosponsoring specialties and medical associations in advancing a resolution addressing serious concerns about third-party pharmacy benefit administrators and the impacts of their disruptive practices.
On Nov. 1, the CMS finalized the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2023. The rule finalizes many policies, significantly: a 4.5% decrease in the conversion factor, a delay in split/shared implementation, continued refinement of evaluation and management coding and documentation, and telehealth flexibilities that will remain in place through 2023. Thanks to ACR advocacy, the CMS reinstated five-minute pre- and post-service times for musculoskeletal ultrasound codes.
A study from Glerup et al. demonstrated that many patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis achieved drug-free remission over 18 years of follow-up and that remission rates remained stable between years 8 and 18 of the study period.
Lupus Research Alliance Inaugurates Diversity Awards The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) inaugurated two new award mechanisms this past summer with the goal of alleviating the racial disparities prevalent in both autoimmune diseases and the biomedical research community. Three notable early career scientists from under-represented groups received the Diversity in Lupus Research Career Development Awards, and…
When he was a boy, Jeff Peterson, MD, fondly remembers that he would help his dad pick blackberries and watch intently as the berries were transformed into wine. “I liked it when my dad offered me a sip because the wine tasted very sweet,” Dr. Peterson says. “It was a special family moment.” These days,…
The FDA has approved upadacitinib for the treatment of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) based on a short-term study that demonstrated improved pain, function and other symptoms of nr-axSpA in patients with active disease.