Of all outpatient rheumatology visits, 17 percent are conducted via telemedicine. Only three specialties report higher engagement in telemedicine: psychiatry, substance-abuse disorder treatment, and endocrinology. Jack Cush, MD, and other panelists discussed the dynamics of telehealth for rheumatology providers and patients.

In the second of three sessions dedicated to better understanding how to use research statistics, Becki Cleveland, PhD, and Todd Schwartz, PhD, presented an overview of methods for modeling categorical variables rheumatologic researchers may encounter, which can greatly affect the impact and validity of one’s data.

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of new agents for pediatric lupus nephritis, juvenile psoriatic arthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis. Amit Golding, MD, PhD, highlighted the approvals of belimumab IV, ustekinumab, and secukinumab, and Cmdr. Hyun Son, PharmD, discussed the FDA’s role when drug shortages occur.