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

From the College

Volunteer Opportunities for Fellows-in-Training

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The spirit of volunteerism has changed from the baby boomers to Gen Xers, but the need has not. As professional associations and organizations evolve, the need for volunteers continues. Because fellows-in-training are new to rheumatology as well as the ACR, they bring a unique perspective to their volunteer roles.

Evidence-Based Practice: Making it a Reality

Karen L. Kerr, MSN, NP, CPNP, APRN-BC  |  

Evidence-based practice has become the standard of care in the 21st century. Evidence-based practice is “the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.” It requires the integration of a health professional’s clinical expertise, the best available scientific evidence, and patient values and preferences to guide clinical decisions for individual patients.

New ACR Strategic Plan Approved

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On May 11, the ACR leadership approved a revised strategic plan for 2007–2009 that will guide the College’s work and determine the path the organization will take. The plan has a direct effect on the way the organization serves its members because ACR committees develop and implement programs and services based on the priorities it outlines.

SCHIP Legislation a Priority

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There are approximately 9 million uninsured children in the United States, and the number is increasing. Of those 9 million, 6 million are eligible for – but not enrolled in – the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid.

Stop the Steep Imaging Cuts of 2005

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DXA reimbursement will be cut 75% by 2010 if Congress does not act now. Reimbursement for imaging studies such as DXA has been reduced to the Hospital Outpatient Perspective Payment System (HOPPS) rate, based on a Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) provision. This reduction not only negatively affects rheumatologists who perform imaging studies in their offices, but will also affect access to care and increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Profiling Providers: Is Your Practice Ready?

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Medicare may start profiling physicians as soon as mid 2008. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develop a profiling system to identify physicians with inefficient practice patterns. At a House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing, Herbert Kuhn, acting deputy administrator of the CMS, said that identifying inefficient physicians, or “profiling,” would involve comparing the number of tests ordered by a physician for certain types of patients with the number ordered by colleagues in cases with the same outcome.

The Quality Movement Explained

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“To Err is Human,” published by the Institute of Medicine in 1999, set off a firestorm of quality initiatives when it announced that at least 44,000 to 98,000 people die in hospitals every year because of medical errors. The first quality initiatives, which were aimed at hospitals, have now trickled down to physician practices. For two years there have been reports of payors moving to a pay-for-performance system or value-based purchasing.

Support for a Future without RA

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Shirley Enis of Jacksboro, Texas, has decided to get involved with “Within Our Reach” because the campaign has the capacity to improve RA patients’ quality of life, alleviate long-term effects of RA, and ultimately ensure that future generations can enjoy life without RA.

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

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A recently identified autoimmune disorder, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) mainly affects young women between age 30 and 40. Those affected by APS may otherwise be healthy or have an underlying disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).