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

How Does Health Literacy Affect the Patient Global Assessment?

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

For RA patients, a low score on the patient global assessment of disease activity as measured by a visual analog scale (PGA-VAS) is necessary to confirm remission. However, limited patient health literacy combined with the complexity of the scale may result in discrepancies between the PGA-VAS and provider assessments of disease activity. New research examined the patient perspective on the PGA-VAS and its connections to health literacy and disease state…

U.S. Government Website for Comparing Doctors Lacks Data

Lisa Rapaport  |  

(Reuters Health)—Physician Compare, a U.S. website created to help patients find high-quality doctors, is missing so much information on individual providers that it may not be helpful, a new study suggests. Quality reporting has been a work in progress for almost three decades since a landmark 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine, ‘To Err…

FDA Approves Drug for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—Jacobus Pharmaceutical Co Inc on Monday won U.S. approval for the first drug to treat children with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder. The drug, Ruzurgi (amifampridine), was approved for use in patients ages 6–17, the according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), which affects about three people…

New Guideline Recommends Frequent Monitoring & Collaboration for JIA-Associated Uveitis Management

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As soon as pediatric patients are diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), they should also be screened for uveitis, says ophthalmologist Gary Holland, MD. Otherwise, the University of California, Los Angeles, provider says, “Kids who are diagnosed with JIA may not come to an ophthalmologist until they have vision-limiting complications.” Uveitis is the most common…

Summit on Connective Tissue Disease-Associated ILD Fosters Interdisciplinary Dialogue

Renée Bacher  |  

During an international summit, physicians and researchers discussed the key clinical and research aspects of the complex intersection between connective tissue diseases and interstitial lung disease (ILD), proposing initiatives to raise awareness and conduct research to better serve patients with autoimmune forms of ILD…

ACR Leaders to Meet with Members of Congress

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On May 16, ACR and ARP leaders serving on the Board of Directors, Affiliate Society Council, Government Affairs Committee, Committee on Rheumatologic Care, RheumPAC and Insurance Subcommittee will go to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of the College’s membership and our patients. The group represents 31 states and the District of Columbia, and will…

ACR Issues Position Statements on Key Rheumatology Issues

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The ACR recently issued three new position statements on key issues facing rheumatologists and patients with rheumatic diseases: step therapy, affordable prescription drug pricing and a special waived test designation for synovial fluid crystal analysis performed by rheumatologists. Here is a detailed look at each. Addressing Step Therapy Step therapy or fail first protocols require patients…

New RISE 2019 Dashboard Is Available!

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The RISE 2019 Dashboard features an updated user experience and new functionality. We invite current RISE users to join a free webinar during the month of May to learn about these new features. Please register to join us at these any of these times: Wednesday, May 15 at noon CDT/1 p.m. EDT; Thursday, May 16 at…