Perspectives on selections from the literature
Coding Education at the Annual Meeting
The Certified Rheumatology Coding Course and Exam will be available November 6–7 during the ACR/ ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta. This educational session is designed to increase knowledge of coding and billing compliance for physicians, fellows-in-training, practice managers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and coders/billers in rheumatology practices.
New Workshops on Patient Findings and Joint Injections
There is a critical shortage of rheumatologists in the U.S. The aging of the U.S. population, along with recent changes in healthcare reform, makes it critical for rheumatology practices across the U.S. to plan for the maintenance of accessible, high-quality care for patients. Establishing a collaborative rheumatology practice between a rheumatologist and a nurse practitioner or physician assistant (NP/PA) has been identified as one solution, but there are few rheumatology specialty training opportunities for NPs and PAs. The ARHP has identified the need to provide training for this portion of its membership and is now expanding its offerings for NPs and PAs through four new workshops at the annual meeting in November.
Recent Study Improves Understanding of Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study recently published in Arthritis Care & Research (AC&R) reveals a novel approach for the study of preclinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The investigators conducting the study sought to determine if these RA-related biomarkers could also be found in healthy subjects in order to investigate relationships between genetic and environmental factors and the presence of these biomarkers. Their goal is to study how these biomarkers evolve.
Colcrys Approval Triggers Questions
Some rheumatologists question the depth of research and the approval’s implications for patient access
Falls Prevention in Vancouver: Is It Time to Advise Our Athletes to Play It Safe?
Is it time to advise our athletes to play it safe?
Couples Coping with Chronic Pain
Spouses provide help to their partners, but also need help themselves
The REF Preceptorship Experience
The ACR Workforce Study estimated that nearly half of practicing rheumatologists will retire within eight years, which means that by 2025, there will be a severe shortage of rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in the United States.
Rheumatology Fellowship Training in the U.S.: The REF Stimulus
This year is the 25th anniversary of the ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF), and the REF has evolved considerably since its founding in 1985.
Navigate Maintenance of Certification with the ACR
All rheumatologists certified in 1990 or later are expected to recertify every 10 years and, to do so, are required to enroll in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. Requirements for successful completion of the MOC program include a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine, 100 points of self-evaluation in medical knowledge, and practice performance, as well as a passing the secure exam in your discipline.