[The German Society for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (DGRh) and the COVID-19 pandemic].

The pandemic led to a global disruption of public life unprecedented in modern times due to an infectious disease, which certainly caused additional special burdens for patients with chronic diseases as well as for personnel in the healthcare system. The German Society of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (DGRh), with its Executive Board and two ad hoc commissions, responded promptly to the complex challenges posed by the pandemic for rheumatological care in Germany with provision of a comprehensive and professionally sound range of information and provided concrete assistance in many situations. The diverse activities of the DGRh in the context of the pandemic led to national and international attention and consideration of its committees and recommendations in national committees and guidelines.

Survey on the working, training, and research conditions of resident physicians in internistic and rheumatological continuing education-BEWUSST.

Background: Data on the training and continuing education situation of residents in the field of internal medicine and rheumatology are not available for Germany. For this reason, the Commission for Education and Training of the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh) initiated the BEWUSST survey on the working, training and research conditions of residents in rheumatology.

Methods: A total of 102 questions on the topics of working conditions in everyday professional life, continuing medical education and training, compatibility of career and family, compatibility of work and research, perspectives as a rheumatologist and practical activities were included in an online questionnaire.

[Survey on the working, training, and research conditions of resident physicians in internistic and rheumatological continuing education-BEWUSST].

Background: Data on the training and continuing education situation of residents in the field of internal medicine and rheumatology are not available for Germany. For this reason, the Commission for Education and Training of the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh) initiated the BEWUSST survey on the working, training and research conditions of residents in rheumatology.

Methods: A total of 102 questions on the topics of working conditions in everyday professional life, continuing medical education and training, compatibility of career and family, compatibility of work and research, perspectives as a rheumatologist and practical activities were included in an online questionnaire.

'Status Quo' on Different Aspects of Gender Distribution in Rheumatology in Germany-Results from a Nationwide Online Survey among Physicians.

Objectives: Despite the increasing number of female medical students and fellows in Europe, women are still under-represented in higher academic careers and positions in medicine. The aim of this survey was to assess the 'status quo' on gender distribution among rheumatologists in Germany.

Methods: A web-based anonymous survey (21 questions with multiple answers and free text) using QuestionPro was distributed among rheumatologists in Germany via newsletters, social media and personal contact, including questions regarding hierarchical positions and work characteristics.

Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to transformations in healthcare infrastructures and increased use of (innovative) telemedicine (TM) tools. Comparison of the use of video consultation (VC) in rheumatology in the pre-pandemic period and during the pandemic might allow for evaluating this new form of consultancy in healthcare due to changing conditions and possibilities.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional nationwide online survey among German rheumatologists and rheumatologists in training between March and May 2021 promoted by newsletters and Twitter posts.

One year of digital health applications (DiGA) in Germany - Rheumatologists' perspectives.

Background: Based on given legislation the German approach to digital health applications (DiGA) allows reimbursed prescription of approved therapeutic software products since October 2020. For the first time, we evaluated DiGA-related acceptance, usage, and level of knowledge among members of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) 1 year after its legal implementation.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey, initially designed by the health innovation hub (think tank and sparring partner of the German Federal Ministry of Health) and the German Pain Society was adapted to the field of rheumatology.

[Rheumatology training positions in Germany].

Background: In the next few years many general practitioners and specialists will retire. As in other disciplines the question arises in rheumatology whether sufficient training positions are available to maintain or expand the supply of care according to demand. Therefore, the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh) has assigned its committee for education and training to review the currently available training opportunities in Germany.

[Publicity campaign rheuma2025 of the Union for Rheumatology].

The publicity campaign "rheuma2025", initiated by the Union for Rheumatology, aims at improvement of patient-centered care. For this the number of positions for trainees in rheumatology needs to increase to a level which matches the public needs. Students in medical school must have even more interest for the discipline and they must be recruited.

[Annual meeting of the German Society for Rheumatology going virtual-successfully defying the pandemic].

Background: In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic led to the annual meeting of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) being conducted as the virtual German Rheumatology Congress.

Aim: How is the virtual German Rheumatology Congress accepted and what are the possibilities of optimization for the future?

Material And Method: The registered participants were asked to take part in an online congress evaluation.

Results: Of 2566 congress attendees, 721 participated in the evaluation.

[Recommendations of the German Society for Rheumatology for management of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases in the context of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic - Update July 2020].

A few days after the SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared a pandemic, the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) compiled first recommendations for the care of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). These first recommendations were based on an expert consensus and were largely non-evidence-based. Now that the first scientific data from registers, cross-sectional studies, case reports and case series are available, the present update is intended to update the previous recommendations and to add new findings.

[Digital Health in Rheumatology - Status 2018/19].

State Of The Art: Innovations in information and communication technology have been used in rheumatology for many years. In 2018 the German Society for Rheumatology established the Commission "Digital Rheumatology".

Digital Applications In German Rheumatology: Mobile data acquisition in rheumatological patients is feasible.