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Opening session: ACR addresses how technology can advance rheumatology
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WASHINGTON — The opening session of the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting was marked by forward-thinking ideas and a focus on how technological advances can move the field and improve patient care.
Joan M. Von Feldt, MD, president of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), spoke about the quality of care, big data, workforce and value. In particular, she noted the workforce of practicing rheumatologists is declining at a time when the demand for such specialists is growing. The key focus of her comments centered on how an increasing array of online information can improve clinical practice.
“The wave of big data has washed upon the ACR,” she said.
Von Felt encouraged increased use of electronic medical records (EMRs), focusing on specific details of use of her EPIC dashboard.
“We need to focus on improving the effectiveness, efficiency and profitability of rheumatic disease care. We need to re-brand ourselves as providers of high value care,” she said, here.
Keynote address
Joseph Kvedar, MD, a dermatologist and vice president of Connected Health at Partners HealthCare in Boston and author of The Internet of Healthy Things, delivered the keynote address. He discussed the future of rheumatology as it pertains to technological advances, and he noted there are many opportunities for clinicians to employ technology right now.
“You can have a virtual doctor’s visit in Walgreen’s, you can have a virtual doctor’s visit at CVS, today,” he said. “Telehealth really is happening, and it is happening around you. Don’t be caught by surprise because you didn’t think about it.”
As for the future, Kvedar provided an overview of his book, and how we should make sure not to miss opportunities for technology to advance patient care. In particular, he discussed how an artificially intelligent program can assist individuals in maintaining good health.
“The technology part of this vision is here today,” he said. “Step counts, weight, EEG counts – all of this stuff is available on your device. But while we can all agree that the pieces of the puzzle are there, we have yet to put the puzzle together.”
Awards of distinction
The recipient of the Presidential Gold Medal, David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, briefly spoke in acceptance of the award.
“The ACR has been an important part of my life for three decades since I began as an abstract reviewer for the regional meeting,” he said, and added that his editorship of both Arthritis & Rheumatism and The Rheumatologist were highlights of his career. “To me an opening ceremony is the best part of an event. We all feel a great sense of community, and we all can feel the satisfaction of trying to make the world a better place.”
Other recipients included Yvonne Sherrer, MD, who received the Distinguished Service Award; Claire Bombardier, MD, who received the Distinguished Clinician Scholar Award; James O’Dell, MD, who received the Distinguished Clinical Investigator Award; John Mounts, PhD, MD, who received the Distinguished Basic Investigator Award; Marian Hannan, DSc, MPH, and Ingrid Lundberg, MD, who received the Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award; Thomas A. Pressly III, MD, who received the Paulding Phelps Award; Jasvinder Singh, MD, MPH, and Soumya Raychaudhuri, MD, PhD, who received the Henry Kunkel Young Investigator Award; and Sterling West, MD, who received the Distinguished Fellowship Program Director Award.
Von Felt also awarded nine distinguished fellow awards and granted 25 individuals the ACR Master Designation. The full list of these awards, along with the ARHP awards, can be found at the ACR Annual Meeting website. – by Rob Volansky
Reference:
Von Felt JM, et al. ACR/ARHP opening lecture and awards. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Nov. 11-16, 2016; Washington.