In the coming year, the ACR will produce recommendations on how to address the shortage of rheumatologists and the perceived decline of many of our academic units. A portion of the shortage could be addressed by expansion of the numbers of rheumatology nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), who are among the most rapidly growing segments of the ARHP. The years 2007 and 2008 will see new ACR/ARHP initiatives in curriculum development and training opportunities for NPs and PAs. I suspect that even significant growth in the numbers of physician extenders will still leave us needing some additional number of rheumatologists, and more fellowship positions will be required. Can the ACR develop new ways of enticing academic health systems to better support rheumatology units, including an expansion of the number of fellowship positions? I welcome input from ACR members on this (or any) issue.
The ACR is increasingly called upon to take a stand on public policy issues that affect its members and their patients. Our Government Affairs Committee, which in recent years has been ably led by Joseph Flood, MD, and some hard-working ACR staff, has done a terrific job keeping up with everything from draconian cuts in dual energy X-ray absorptiometry reimbursement to legislative initiatives that affect the Food and Drug Administration. Our activity on Capitol Hill has intensified; I, along with many other ACR/ARHP members and teams of ACR staff, visited three times in 2007 to lobby on behalf of the ACR. An important focus has been to pass the Arthritis Act—a top priority for the ACR.
We hope to bring even greater numbers of ACR members, including new RAC representatives, to Washington, D.C., in 2008 in order to make our views known to our elected representatives. Please review the public position statements of the ACR by checking the ACR Web site and by keeping a close watch on The Rheumatologist and the other communication vehicles of the ACR. I want to hear your perspectives on public policy issues on which the ACR has taken a stand—or should potentially take a stand.
In this first column, I’ve touched on only a few of the many issues and tasks that await us in the coming year, but I’ll have the opportunity to cover a range of topics in future issues. To all members of the ACR, I wish you a fulfilling and successful year—for each of us individually and for our profession collectively.