One strategy, a learning management system, five recommendations, 12 campaign sponsorships and a first – and a tenth – anniversary
The European League Against Rheumatism, EULAR, is celebrating a year of achievement in rheumatology in 2018. EULAR launched its new five-year strategy as well as the EULAR School learning management system. It also published five recommendations, sponsored twelve countries in Europe to launch the EULAR Campaign, “Don’t Delay, Connect Today” at local level – and commemorated the first anniversary of the campaign with a dedicated press conference. 2018 also marked ten years since the People with Arthritis and Rheumatism in Europe were integrated into the EULAR network, becoming one of the three pillars.
The EULAR Congress in Amsterdam, which received a record-breaking number of abstract submissions (5,090) in 2018, hosted the launch of the EULAR Strategy 2018-2023, as well as the launch of the EULAR School online learning management system (LMS).
The strategy is the third strategic cycle in developing excellence in rheumatology in six areas of focus: Education, the annual congress, quality of care, research, advocacy and the internal organisation of EULAR. It is designed to further enhance the excellent standards and activities established and led by EULAR across the field of rheumatology.
The learning management system from the EULAR School is accessible to individuals across the scientific, health professional and patient audience spectrum around the world and provides round-the-clock access to the highest-quality – and the most innovative content – in the area of rheumatology.
EULAR also published five recommendations during 2018. These included recommendations in the management of hand osteoarthritis; the effect of exercise and physical activity promotion in people with rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthrosis and osteoarthritis; health professional approaches to pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis; the management of Behçet’s syndrome and the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice.
The sponsorship of twelve countries to implement the EULAR Campaign, Don’t Delay, Connect Today, was started in January 2018 and the campaign’s first anniversary was marked with a dedicated press conference held at the EULAR Congress in Amsterdam in June. The international awareness day, World Arthritis Day, was celebrated around the world on 12 October, with EULAR marking the day with a dedicated video that reached over half a million people.
2018 also marked ten years since the EULAR pillar, People with Arthritis and Rheumatism in Europe (PARE), was integrated into the network.
Looking to 2019, Professor Hans Bijlsma, EULAR President, says, “I would like to extend my personal thanks to all those in the EULAR network and beyond who have contributed to this milestone year in rheumatology. Let us all unite and go forward into the future in fighting rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases – together, we can contribute to a healthier world.”