Rheumatology Curriculum Outline Aims to Train and Integrate NPs and PAs

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) has created a rheumatology curriculum outline that can be used to create more efficient integration of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) into rheumatology practice, according to a study published in Arthritis Care & Research

The task force consisted of private practice and academic rheumatologists and was led by Benjamin J. Smith from the Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee. The researchers created a rheumatology curriculum outline (RCO) to provide a structured and comprehensive educational approach for the NP/PA and the supervising/collaborating physician mentor as the NP/PA enters a rheumatology practice. The task force created the RCO in a stepwise approach as follows: 1) conducted a needs assessment through a literature search and survey of NPs/PAs; 2) evaluated data obtained from literature search and survey; 3) collaborated in development of the RCO; and 4) obtained valued stakeholder feedback.