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

From the College

Learn How the ACR is Advancing Rheumatology on Capitol Hill

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While you are at the 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting learning about the latest advancements in rheumatologic care, stop by the Advocacy kiosk at the ACR Resource Center to discuss the latest developments in health policy. Currently, medicine is on the verge of great change with Congress discussing everything from physician payment reform to cuts to biomedical research and medical liability reform. The ACR advocates on behalf of the rheumatology profession and our patients and is actively pursuing the following issues:

Back Pain and the Role of the Physical Therapist

Andrew A. Guccione, PT, PhD and Jan K. Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS  |  

Back pain is a common occurrence, so much so that most adults will have at least one episode of back pain at some point in their lives. Fortunately, most of these episodes last only a few days and resolve if patients maintain normal activity levels, avoid the detrimental effects of too much bed rest, use over-the-counter pain relievers with caution, and seek the attention of a health professional if the pain or other symptoms persist or worsen over time.

Meaningful Use and Patient Engagement – Supporting eHealth Literacy

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It is no surprise that understanding health information and navigating the U.S. health system can overwhelm even the savviest patients with advanced literacy skills. Data from the National Adult Literacy Survey suggest that nearly 50% of all adults have problems understanding many aspects of healthcare, including prescriptions, appointment slips, and health education materials.

Networking Opportunities Abound

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Networking opportunities can make a large educational conference experience feel truly meaningful, memorable, and beneficial. Make your annual meeting experience memorable by participating in networking options that appeal to you.

ACR Member Named PPAC Physician Researcher of the Year

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Captain Lisa Rider, MD, a physician-scientist and clinical researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., was named 2011 Physician Researcher of the Year by the Physicians Professional Advisory Committee of the United States Public Health Service. The award was presented in recognition of her basic and clinical research into myositis. Her recent research findings have included: definitions of improvement as a primary composite endpoint for myositis clinical trials, discovery of a novel autoantibody in juvenile dermatomyositis and discovery of new immunogenetic risk factors for juvenile myositis. Her epidemiologic and clinical studies in myositis have made substantial contributions to public health practice.

The Role of the Physician Assistant in the Treatment of Pain

Susan Richmond, MS, PA-C  |  

Pain is a common manifestation of rheumatic conditions. Patients with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and osteoarthritis require disease-specific management for controlling acute episodes of pain as well as strategies to control ongoing daily discomfort. 

ACR Talks to Congress about Physician Payment Reform

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This year, key congressional committees that oversee healthcare have held hearings on the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and are discussing various payment reform options. The ACR has submitted testimony to the key committees encouraging Congress to:

Coding and Billing Guidelines Overview and Resources

Melesia Tillman, CPC, CPC-I, CRHC, CHA  |  

Due to federal regulations and the variety of audits that now exist, the ACR has developed an overview of guidelines and identified a list of resources to keep handy to ensure all current guidelines are strictly followed.

Practice Page

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Practice management changes and opportunities in 2012