Annual Scientific Meeting Program (ASM) Committee

Communications Committee

Education Committee

Guidelines Committee

Human Resources Committee

Pediatrics Committee

Quality Care Committee

Research Committee

Stakeholder Engagement Committee

Therapeutics Committee

Satisfaction Scores:

Satisfied with Conference

Would Recommend Conference to a Colleague

Will be Changing Practice Due to Conference

Top Reasons for Attending:

Professional Development

Rheumatology Research Updates

Poster Sessions

Feeback:

Feeback:

Top reasons for attending

Professional Development

Poster Sessions

Networking Opportunities

Satisfaction Score

Satisfied with program

   Mandate

Facilitate optimal and fluid communications among the CRA, members and stakeholders.

   Achievements

2021ASM Theme:
Podcast: 8 episodes released across 2020 to date with over 2,000 streams

Accounting Column (Rheum for Growth) – two articles launched to date:
1) “To Incorporate or Not to Incorporate?”
2) “Opening a New Practice”

Social Media: Small task force created to seek out articles and resources for members to post on the CRA’s Twitter account and in select President’s Updates

Review: Provided feedback and review of investigator-led surveys and special projects (EULAR and ACR coverage)

   Priorities

Who’s in the Rheum: Relaunch series of articles that will highlight CRA members.

Podcast: Record and produce episodes for season 2 of Around the Rheum in 2021. New initiatives include a focus on different formats including a guest host (Dr. Janet Pope) and a French pilot episode.

Continue to work on social media and accounting column initiatives, as well as reviewing surveys and/or special projects as needed.

   Mandate

Provide member education through a variety of CRA
programs and initiatives designed for members and
rheumatology trainees as well as facilitate
rheumatology education for medical undergraduates, postgraduates and paediatric/internal medicine
trainees.

   Achievements 2020

Introduced COVID-19 Response Webinar Series in response to global pandemic.

Developed national consensus opinion of learning outcomes for a National Undergraduate Rheumatology Cirrucula (NURC).

Developed, disseminated and reviewed annual National Written Rheumatology In–Training Examinations (NWRITE) for adult rheumatology trainees.

Rebranded CRA leadership program to LEAP (LEAdership Program) and received record number of applicants to the 2020 program.

Continued collaboration with the ASM, Residents’ Pre-Course, Review Course, LEAP and NRRW Program Committees to facilitate program planning.

   Priorities

Dissemination of national learning outcomes for undergraduate rheumatology education.

Extend educational resources for Program Directors and rheumatology residents (including a national immunology curriculum).

Continue to provide accreditation of Section 1 and Section 3 activities to physician organizations.Promote best practices in CPD activities to inform CRA membership and operational committees.

   Programs

National Rheumatology Residents’ Weekend (NRRW) hosted in Toronto January 10–12, 2020.

CRA LEAdership Program (LEAP, formerly known as FLIRT) meetings hosted virtually in May and October, 2020.

   Mandate

Prioritize, fund and support the development of evidence-based guidelines for various rheumatic diseases, and disseminate them to the membership and medical community at large.

   Achievements  2020

Introduced concept of continually updated recommendations or ‘living guidelines’ for CRA guideline development.

Developed an ‘equity framework’ to be incorporated into all CRA guidelines (collaboration with Quality Care Committee).

Responded to urgent members needs with development of COVID-19 vaccination decision aid tool and work on GRADE COVID-19 Vaccine guidelines.

   Priorities

Utilize the guidelines development tool MAGICapp to streamline the development process.

Finalize and publish RA, SpA, JIA Uveitis and Transition Care guidelines.

   Mandate

Ensure that the CRA workforce issues are identified nationally, provincially & regionally, & that appropriate strategies are identified/developed to strengthen workforce capacity across Canada.

   Achievements  2020

Successful launch of the 2020 CRA Workforce & Wellness Survey underway which will provide key information on Canada’s rheumatology workforce (supply, distribution, clinical activity, retirement planning, wellness & burnout, impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatology practices). Survey will be analyzed in Spring 2021.

Drafted the 2020 CRA Rheumatology Workforce Technical Report & Position Statements.

   Priorities

Analysis, manuscript preparation, and knowledge translation activities to report on the findings from 2020 CRA Workforce & Wellness Survey.

Manuscript preparation, and knowledge translation activities to report on the 2020 CRA Rheumatology Workforce Technical Report & Position Statements.

Explore interprofessional collaboration opportunities as well as develop synergies with other CRA committees & related rheumatology & medical organizations.

Collaborate with ongoing programs addressing workforce needs.

Support CRA members in advocating for HR resources in their regions.

The CRA endorses the needs to:

1. Increase Recruitment of Clinical FTE Rheumatologists.
2. Reduce the Regional Maldistribution of Rheumatologists across Canada.
3. Enhance Retention of Rheumatologists within the Workforce.
4. Enhance Workforce Capacity with Allied Health Practitioners.
5. Promote and Support Research to Provide Data About the Rheumatology Workforce to Plan for the Future Health Care Needs of Canada’s Population.

   Mandate

Promote education and awareness of childhood rheumatic diseases and serve to strengthen the voice of pediatric rheumatology across Canada through advocacy, education, and human resources

   Achievements  2020

Collaborated with Therapeutics Committee and Stakeholder Engagement committee re: advocacy efforts related to Actemra, citrate-free Humira, SIMPONI ARIA, and Anakinra.

Educated members on issues related to COVID-19 and pediatric rheumatology patients, including a PIMS webinar and podcast episode. Pediatric Executive members were lead authors on Canadian Pediatric Society PIMS Practice Point, endorsed by the CRA.

Subcommittees actively engaged on developing Choosing Wisely pediatric recommendations, JIA Uveitis Guidelines, and networking opportunities for community pediatric rheumatologists.

   Priorities

Identify and influence issues of national relevance that affect rheumatologists’ practices through dissemination of Practice Patterns Survey.

Host accredited ‘National Grand Rounds’ webinars of issues of national interest.

Publish pediatric Choosing Wisely recommendations and JIA Uveitis Guidelines.

Continue to strengthen relations and collaborations with Cassie + Friends and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

   Mandate

Support member activities in the domains of Equity, Access, Quality Patient Management, and Resource Stewardship, and work with key stakeholders to achieve optimal patient care.

   Achievements  2020

JIA Transition working group is a collaboration between Quality Care, Pediatrics and Guidelines Committee. Published ‘National Priorities for High Quality Rheumatology Transition Care for Youth in Canada’ in the Journal of Rheumatology.

Supported members through the pandemic with telehealth guidance, including a webinar on best practices for telehealth use. A Telehealth Working Group has been formed with several initiatives planned for 2021.

Indigenous Health initiatives included national workshop (with Phase Two held virtually), and several local workshops for residents, PTs, OTs and nurses in BC.

Survey on type and extent of inequity in COVID-19 vaccine access developed, to be deployed in early 2021.

   Priorities

Publish JIA Transition guidelines and compile transition resources; development of an educational blueprint to develop learning sessions; and creation of a ‘business case’ for transition care in rheumatology in Canada, to be used in advocacy efforts.

Develop Telehealth position statement and resources for members.

Continue to increase rheumatologists’ knowledge and practice skills in Indigenous Health topics.

   Mandate

To work with the CEO to champion the cause of Rheumatology Research in Canada:

• The committee will be responsible for soliciting sponsorship funding for the CIORA grant program and formulating new funding strategies and establishing grant competition criteria.
• The committee will establish what can be done beyond CIORA.
• The committee will address all research agenda items for the CRA.

   Priorities

Present What Can SR&ED Credits Do for You and Your Practice workshop at the CRA & AHPA Annual Scientific Meeting.

Fund 5 CIORA grants, including one community rheumatology grant.

Solicit funding for CIORA grants.

Work with IMHA and Arthritis Society to develop a national research strategy.

   Achievements  2020

Launched 13th CIORA Grant Competition and funded 5 two-year grants for a total of $509,203.

Submitted articles to CRAJ Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer issues highlighting past projects.

Submitted workshop proposal for SR&ED Credits.

Solicited funding and received $475,000 in sponsorship support.

Participated on the Canadian Arthritis Research Conference planning committee.

Would you recommend CIORA to a colleague?

   Mandate

Stakeholder Engagement committee works to build third-party networks that can develop credible, united voices about issues, products, and/or services that are important to our organization.

   Achievements  2020

Worked with Pediatrics and Therapeutics Committee to advocate on a number of drug access issues including citrate-free Humira and Simponi Aria for pediatric patients, HCQ supplies during the pandemic, and Actemra.

Active on many stakeholder committees including Health Canada’s Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee on Drug Shortages (MSSC) and provided requested CRA feedback to CMA on revisions to the Guidelines for Physicians Interactions with Industry.

Invited to participate in a pan-Canadian evaluation on biosimilar implementation, extended by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).

   Priorities

CRA Position Statement on Pharmacare that outlines guiding values and principles to consider while including the unique rheumatology perspective.

Continue to engage with provincial and federal stakeholders on emerging drug shortages and advocate for the needs of rheumatologists and their patients.

   Mandate

Identify and address all therapeutic issues that are relevant to the CRA membership as well as develop position statements and respond to drug shortages/withdrawals as required.

   Achievements  2020

Published several CRA position statements including: COVID-19 and Hydroxychloroquine Supply, Citrate-Free Humira, and COVID-19 Vaccination.

Active with other CRA committees on advocacy efforts including a letter to the Minister of Health regarding the hydroxychloroquine shortage, as well as access to drugs for pediatric patients (Actemra, Citrate-Free Humira, Simponi Aria).

   Priorities

Continue responding to drug shortages, withdrawals, or new issues as required.

Continue advocacy efforts via letters, position statements, meeting participation with stakeholders, etc.

Publish updated Medical Cannabis position statement to include section on cannabidiol and a patient information pamphlet and checklist.

Finalize and publish position statement on Stem Cell Therapy.

Expenditure breakdown 2020

Expenditure breakdown 2020