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

From the College

Members Comment on Drug Safety

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The ACR recently conducted a survey of U.S. members about the issue of drug safety, sources of information, and related issues. The survey netted 454 responses.

How to Win Over Information with Technology

Pamela J. Degotardi, PhD, ARHP President  |  

Information overload—it’s the bane of my life. Some days I’m tempted to unplug all the fancy electronic gadgets that were designed to “keep us connected” and make our lives easier but instead often threaten to overwhelm us with the pressing need to respond immediately whenever our inbox flashes the arrival of yet another urgent message. For me, the challenge has become how to manage the inflow of data, messages, and information; stay current with the advances in my professional field; and carve out some quiet time free from beeping and flashing electronic reminders that relentlessly demand a response.

Help Patients with Scleroderma Manage Musculoskeletal and Functional Limitations

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On March 10, Janet Poole, PhD, OTR, professor of the occupational therapy graduate program at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, will continue the ARHP’s Audioconference/Webcast Series with the management of scleroderma. Dr. Poole received her BS in occupational therapy from Colorado State University, her MA degree in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and her PhD in motor learning/motor control from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Poole’s research interest is in scleroderma and the functional impact of the disease on the tasks of daily living, oral hygiene, parenting, and employment. She has conducted a number of studies examining rehabilitation interventions with people who have scleroderma and, with a colleague, is developing a self-management program for these patients. She has also authored several textbook chapters on rehabilitation for people with scleroderma.

Healthcare in the Obama Administration

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The ballots are counted, the run-off elections are complete, and a new administration and Congress are set to begin. You may recall that the mock election that was held during the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting—78% of U.S. meeting attendees chose Barack Obama as their next president—and the general election echoed that choice. On January 20, Barack Obama was sworn in as the United States’ 44th President.

In America’s Recession, the REF Remains Strong

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According to a survey conducted in October 2008 by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, three-quarters of the region’s leading foundations and corporate giving programs suffered a decline in assets because of plummeting returns on investments over 2008. About one-third of the respondents said they reduced grant budgets from 2007 to 2008, and about half of the organizations said they plan to award fewer grants in 2009.

State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium: New Offerings, Returning Favorites

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If you are looking for a CME symposium that will present up-to-date, cutting-edge information on a broad array of topics in rheumatology in an intimate setting, you won’t want to miss the 2009 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium held Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 18 in Chicago, Ill.

Measuring Quality of Care Is Here to Stay—and the ACR Can Help

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Imagine a patient comes into your office with active RA or lupus. You diagnose her and prescribe medications for her active disease—rash, arthritis, and so forth—but you do nothing to address possible long-term complications. You don’t prescribe calcium or vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis, you don’t get a bone density scan, and you don’t order labs to check risk factors for heart disease.

Biologic Logic: Making Sense of Current Therapies for Rheumatic Diseases

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Continuing the ARHP 2009 Audioconference/Webcast series, Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, FACP, FACR, will discuss the use of biologic therapy in the treatment of rheumatology patients on February 10 from noon to 1:00 pm ET. During the session, Dr. Battafarano will review basic immunology, inflammation, and relevant cytokines for common rheumatic diseases. In addition, he will describe the current biologic therapies and their relationship to rheumatic disease outcomes, and identify future biologic strategies for therapy.