What Is the American College of Rheumatology (rheumatology.org)?

rheumatology.org is the website of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), a non-profit professional association that works to advance the specialty of rheumatology. It serves nearly 9,100 physicians, health professionals, and scientists worldwide who work in rheumatology, and its site is organized around two broad audiences: clinicians who need guidelines, tools, and meeting information, and patients or caregivers who need disease and treatment information. If you are a practicing rheumatologist, an allied health professional, a researcher, or someone looking for patient-facing resources, the site is likely relevant to you.

What the ACR is

The ACR describes itself as a non-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology. Its membership base is global, spanning physicians, health professionals, and scientists in the rheumatology subspecialty. The organization also runs ACR Convergence, which it calls the world's premier rheumatology experience, and publishes the ACR/ARP journals.

What you can find on the site

The homepage groups its resources under a few clear headings:

• Clinical Tools & Guidelines — including Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Guidance, Clinical Tools, and Criteria
• ACR/ARP Journals
• Upcoming Meetings
• Diseases & Conditions and Treatments
• Find a Rheumatology Professional
• Patient Advocacy
• Global Community
• ACR CareerConnection, a job board with more than 2,000 rheumatology-specific jobs

For clinicians

The clinical section is the core of the professional offering. It includes practice guidelines, clinical guidance documents, practical tools, and classification or diagnostic criteria. The site also carries news relevant to practice, such as the release of a new osteoarthritis guideline summary and supply-constraint notices (for example, monitoring of Tyenne supply constraints).

For patients and caregivers

Patient-facing content covers diseases and conditions, treatments, a directory to find a rheumatology professional, and patient advocacy resources. The ACR also runs Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month each September, with materials aimed at families, clinicians, communities, caregivers, schools, and healthcare professionals — including a focus on recognizing early signs of pediatric rheumatic disease.

Meetings and events

The ACR hosts several meetings, and the site lists registration details for them:

ACR Convergence Today is the official news source for ACR Convergence, and The Rheum Advocate newsletter covers advocacy, policy, and clinical insights.

Membership

The ACR invites eligible professionals to join. According to the site, ACR/ARP members receive discounted registration fees, access to publications, and other resources. Membership is aimed at those working in or adjacent to rheumatology; if you are outside the field, the public sections on diseases, treatments, and finding a professional remain accessible without joining.

When this site is the right starting point

• You want authoritative clinical guidance, criteria, or tools in rheumatology.
• You are looking for a rheumatology meeting to attend or register for.
• You are job hunting or hiring within rheumatology.
• You need patient-oriented information on rheumatic diseases and treatments, or a way to find a rheumatology professional.
• You want to follow advocacy and policy developments affecting the specialty.

If your need is general health information outside rheumatology, or a diagnosis for a specific personal condition, this site is not a substitute for care from a qualified professional — its patient materials are educational, and its clinician materials assume professional training.