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TO COORDINATORS OF REGIONAL MEDICAL PROGRAMS, REGIONAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS,

’ AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH ARTHRITIS

SUBJECT: Summaries of arthritis programs funded in 1974 by Regional Medical
Programs.

This transmits a copy of the summaries of pilot arthritis programs , funded

last year through a special one-year appropaiation earmark of $4.5 millions,

for your information and use. These reports were prepared in November by

arthritis program and project directors at our request. They present the

status of the funded programs during or immediately following startup acti-

vities, and contain information which may be useful to many individuals

working in the area of arthritis diseases.

The development and distribution of these summaries responds in part to
recommendations of the National Advisory Council on Regional Medical Pro-
grams when it recommended, in conjunction with pilot arthritis program grant
approvals in June 1974, that the program be provided overall coordination.
The Council also urged that mechanisms be developed for program reporting,
info rmation exchange,and evaluation. We have been unable to respond fully
to these Council recommendations in the face of staff reductions, the immi-
nent phase-out of the Division of Regional Medical Programs a and the

bean
expected termination of the Regional Medical Programs (RMP's) by Bebenbex

ah, -97s:

In order to develop a more adequate response to the Council's recommendations,
a conference of arthritis program leaders was convened at Kansas City, Missouri,

on January 19 - 20, 1975. The conference was sponsored by the 29 RMP's operating
approved arthritis programs, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hosts of the conference were the Kansas
RMP, and the Kansas City Division, Arthritis Foundation. The program
summaries provided background for the deliberations of the more than 100
conferees, along with information developed by them during the conference.
The conference outcome was a body of resolutions calling for actions by
program participants and associates on aspects of the arthritis program,
including ways to record and assess the program, project reporting and
evaluation, activity coordination, and opportunities for obtaining con-

tinuity support.

We presently anticipate that the conference report, which will fully
reflect discussions and resolutions, can be devéloped and transmitted to

you within two months.