What is the society’s main goal?

The mission of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) is to enhance the lives of persons living with disabilities through an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, and to promote rehabilitation research and its translation to clinical practice. Join ACRM and help improve lives through interdisciplinary rehabilitation research: ACRM.org/onebody

More: ACRM.org 

Is there a personal story behind the establishment of the society?

ACRM is approaching its 100th anniversary. The Congress was founded in 1923 as the American College of Radiology and Physiotherapy, a professional association of physicians who used physical agents to diagnose and treat illness and disability. In 1966 an amendment to the Congress constitution extended membership privileges to persons “holding an earned doctoral degree and active in and contributing to the advancement of the field of rehabilitation medicine.” This allowed membership to be extended to psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, vocational counselors, researchers and others throughout the world. In 1967 the name was officially changed to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). 

ACRM is the professional home of choice for rehabilitation research lovers. Join us: ACRM.org/join

Why did your society decide to take part in the RehabWeek?

The ACRM Technology Networking Group has an amazingly active membership and RehabWeek is the leading international conference with an exclusive focus on rehabilitation technology. Much like the ACRM Annual Conference held each fall, this event provides a shared forum, exchange of ideas and knowledge, and networking. The presence of the leading international societies in rehabilitation technology allows for easy collaborating. We hope that RehabWeek attendees will submit proposals to be a part of the ACRM Annual Conference this fall — where rehab pros from around the world will again unite in Chicago. RehabWeek is an important venue — and partnership for ACRM. DISCOVER the ACRM Technology Networking Group: ACRM.org/tech and join us in improving lives, including your own at the ACRM Annual Conference: ACRMconference.org.

Why is RehabWeek unique and why should people attend?

RehabWeek offers a unique opportunity to engage with international leaders in research, engineering and rehabilitation medicine working on cutting-edge solutions in rehabilitation technology.

Learn more about the ACRM LaunchPad — an exciting rehabilitation tech competition. Visit: ACRM.org/lp

What do you think will be the next big issue in the field? Why?

Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) using wearable and environmental sensors, combined with big data and artificial intelligence to fine-tune home-exercise and activity programs are the next BIG THING in rehabilitation technology. Public health trends – aging of populations globally, growing incidence of disability and chronic disease, longer lifespans for people with disabilities, growing need for healthcare and rehabilitation services — are making the development and implementation of these technologies ever more urgent. Precision rehabilitation to enhance health, function and wellness and responsible use of clinically meaningful data to guide the decision-making process for clinicians offer new opportunities to address these growing public health needs. 

Don’t miss the latest in rehabilitation research found in ACRM Publications including the leading PM&R journal in the field — The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (also affectionately known as “the red journal” and simply “The Archives”), as well as the ACRM Open Access journal, the Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation as well the weekly newsletter ACRM eNews — that is free for all e-Members.

ACRM Publications: ACRM.org/publications

Check-out RehabCast — the official podcast of ACRM & The Archives: ACRM.org/rehabcast

And don’t miss Tech Talks, a series of webinars by the ACRM Technology Networking Group

Any success story you would like to share?

ACRM is the fastest growing professional association in physical medicine and rehabilitation with more than 82,500 members representing 65 countries. And ACRM is set up to help organizations and companies who need to reach this valuable audienc. The ACRM Institutional Support Program offers a way for companies and organizations to publicly show their commitment to the science by aligning with the research and aligning with ACRM.

Through it’s database, ACRM has the largest reach, the highest level of technology and the greatest overall value for reaching a global community of prospects. Efficient & effective, ACRM helps you reach the global community representing the WHOLE interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. The ACRM 365 Sales Team is at your service and ready to help get you started: ACRM.org/Sales