Happy New Year, readers of The Rheumatologist! As the incoming editor, I want to welcome you back in this new year and hope that you’ll stick around, month after month, as we journey together through 2023. As the year progresses, you may notice some departures from what we have previously done, but I also wish…
We write to celebrate the life of Philip C. Robinson, MB ChB, PhD, FRACP, a beloved colleague and leader in rheumatology. Phil died in early January after an unexpected and short illness. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and his two young sons. We have witnessed an incredible outpouring of respect and affection for…
The new council, comprising professionals from small or independent rheumatology practices, will work with the ACR and its committees on issues that confront members in small practices.
The ACR highlights essential policy and reporting changes to the Quality Payment Program for performance year 2023 and beyond. Key changes include policies regarding the development of new MIPS Value Pathways and refinement of subgroup participation.
The new standing committee, devoted to addressing long-term workforce solutions in rheumatology, will be chaired by Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, MACP, MACR. Dr. Battafarano brings more than 35 years of leadership and experience in graduate medical education in rheumatology and internal medicine to the position.
Later this month, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is expected to extend the public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days. The PHE extension will allow for the continuation of many flexibilities instituted in 2020, including the expansion of such telehealth provisions as audio-only telehealth.
In this large, population-based study, Xie et al. found that the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 30-day hospitalization and 30-day death were higher among individuals with gout than individuals without gout in the general population, irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status.
PHILADELPHIA—Quality improvement (QI) tools in pediatric rheumatology can help overcome health outcome disparities that are based on race, gender identity, income and other factors, experts said in a session at ACR Convergence. With it well established that these disparities exist, it’s time to begin eliminating them, said Emily Smitherman, MD, MS, assistant professor of pediatric…
PHILADELPHIA—Officials from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration discussed recent drug approvals and drug safety issues at ACR Convergence in November in a session that captured the flurry of activity in the rheumatology sphere at the agency over the past year. Sabiha Khan, MD, clinical reviewer in the Division of Rheumatology and Transplant Medicine at…
PHILADELPHIA—The most vital component of avoiding drug shortages is early communication, officials from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said in a session at ACR Convergence 2022 in November. “Early notification is key in order to prevent and mitigate shortages,” said Hyun Son, PharmD, a member of the Drug Shortage Staff with the FDA…