New advancements and proven approaches across the practice of rheumatology will be at the forefront of the interprofessional programming at ACR Convergence 2024.

“The ARP is a microcosm representing over 20 disciplines across the allied health professional continuum. We especially focused this year to ensure the multiform needs of these professionals were richly reflected in our program offerings,” said Priscilla Calvache, LCSW, Assistant Director for Lupus Programs & Community Engagement at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Chair of the ARP/Interprofessional Team for the Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC).  “One of the things that we were intentional about this year was curating more interactive sessions. We strongly encouraged presenters to incorporate audience response activities, including case examples, polling tools, and evidence-based templates, to provide some of the practical skills professionals want to leave with.”

As with the overall ACR Convergence program, the interprofessional program will highlight emerging concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI), including in the ARP Distinguished Lecture on Sunday, Nov. 17. AI in Rheumatology Practice — Unpacking the Toolkit will be from 2:15–3:15 p.m. in Room 152B. Jamie Collins, PhD, will discuss the ethical implications of AI in patient care and future innovations impacting the interprofessional team.

“The focus of this session is to introduce the AI tools and technology that are being integrated into rheumatology practice to improve patient care and outcomes,” Ms. Calvache said.

Health equity, patient engagement, and the particular needs and skills of the different members of the interdisciplinary team are other high-interest topics that will be featured this year.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the ARP Keynote will explore Fostering Empathy, Fostering Health Interprofessional Advocacy and Collaboration for Patient and Family Centered Care from 1–2 p.m. in Room 152B.

“Sandra Mintz, RN, MSN, will be looking at the role of interprofessional collaboration within the care of patients who are living with rheumatic conditions, and how professionals can cultivate patient-centered approaches within rheumatology to address not only the medical needs but also the emotional and social aspects of patient care,” Ms. Calvache explained.

The Daltroy Lecture on Monday, Nov. 18, will address the mental health considerations of rheumatology. Afton Hassett, PhD, will present Navigating the Unseen — Fostering Mental Health in Rheumatic Disease from 1–2 p.m. in Room 102AB.

“We’re looking to analyze the psychological impact of rheumatic diseases, how they connect with physical symptoms and overall well-being,” Ms. Calvache said. “We’re also looking for opportunities to provide professionals with effective strategies for providing emotional support and fostering resilience in individuals who are facing rheumatic disease and looking at what the evidence says about various tools that could address the often-overlooked challenges that patients face.”

Also on Sunday, Weighing In: A Debate on Medical vs. Behavioral Lifestyle Interventions for People with Obesity and Osteoarthritis will review the pros and cons of behavioral exercise therapies and medical management of obesity and osteoarthritis, as well as provide an overview of newer weight loss medications. The session will be from 1–2 p.m. in Room 152B.

Three popular skills courses will return. The Radiology Bootcamp will be part of the advance programming on Friday, Nov. 15, from 1–3 p.m. in Room 145AB.

The Stats Bootcamp will take place in two sessions as part of the scientific sessions. STATS Bootcamp I: Introduction to Statistical Power and Sample Size Calculation: What It Means and Why It Is Important will be on Sunday from 9–10 a.m. in Room 143ABC. STATS Bootcamp II: Clustering, Bi-Clustering, Soft Clustering: Which Method Is the Right One for My Research Question and Data? will be on Monday from 3:30–4:30 p.m. in Room 146C.

The Immunology Bootcamp will be offered in two parts as well. The first will be on Saturday from 3–4 p.m. in Room 207AB. It will cover how adaptive immune responses can interact and result in rheumatic diseases, as well as the appropriate treatment interventions. The second part, on Sunday from 10:30–11:30 a.m. in Room 103AB, will expand on the mechanisms of autoimmunity and the subsequent inflammatory response that drives various rheumatic diseases and treatment options.

“These are going to have an interactive opportunity to go through clinical decision-making through case studies of connective tissue and inflammatory autoimmune diseases,” Ms. Calvache said.

Performance Matters: Using Performance Measures for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Research and Clinical Care, on Sunday from 10–11:30 a.m. in Room 201, will also incorporate an interactive element. As presenters review the psychometric properties of commonly used performance measures, attendees will have the opportunity to practice administering and scoring three measures: the 30-second chair stand test, the 10-minute self-paced walk test, and the step test.

Additional interprofessional sessions

Saturday, Nov. 16

• Innovative Clinical Trials: Precision, Design, and Optimization, 9–10 a.m. ET, Room 207AB
• It’s Not Just Joint Pain: Demystifying Difficult, Often Neglected Symptoms of Rheumatic Diseases, 9–10:30 a.m. ET, Room 146C
• The ABCDs of Palliative Care: Practical Skills for Incorporating Palliative Care into Rheumatology Practice, 10–11:30 a.m. ET, Room 201
• A Public Health Approach to Osteoarthritis, 10–11:30 a.m. ET, Room 147AB

Sunday, Nov 17

• Reflections on the Past, Present and Future Opportunities for Rheumatology Health Professionals, 9–10 a.m. ET, Room 102AB
• Rheumatology Workforce in the 21st Century: The Role of Advanced Practice Providers, Social Workers, and Physical Therapists, 1–2:30 p.m.ET, Room 102AB

Monday, Nov. 18

• Implementation Science and Lupus: Effectively Bridging the Gap from Research to Practice, 9–10 a.m. ET, Room 102AB
• Chasing Zzzs in Rheumatic Disease: Sleep Disorders and Their Impact, 9–10 a.m. ET, Room 201
• From Tiny Steps to Adult Strides: Mastering the Transition, 9–10 a.m. ET, Room 146C
• Bringing OT Back into the Rheum: Approaches to Utilizing Occupational Therapy in Rheumatology Care, 10:30–11:30 a.m. ET, Room 146C
• Hidden in Plain Sight: The Impact of Ableism on Persons with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, 10:30–11:30 a.m. ET, Room 102AB

Tuesday, Nov. 19

• Navigating the Field of Osteoarthritis: American and European Interprofessional Approaches, 8:15–9:15 a.m. ET, Room 146C
• Leveraging the Patient Voice to Improve Clinical Care and Rheumatology Research, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET, Room 146C