Pain Management and Rheumatology for Primary Care

Pain Management and Rheumatology for Primary Care – 12 Credits

Overview
This conference is designed to provide primary care clinicians with up-to-date, evidence-based information on commonly encountered issues in Pain Management and Rheumatology for Primary Care for Primary Care, while suggesting pragmatic approaches to clinical management. The discussion-based format of the conference will encourage audience participation through dynamic lectures, case-based studies, and hands-on workshops. Keynote speakers will present and critically assess recent advancements and industry updates in Pain Management and Rheumatology for Primary Care with the goal of enhancing the knowledge-base and core competence of attendees. The successful completion of this interactive program diagnosing, treating, and prescribing the most effective courses of treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.

Target Audience
All Physicians and other Healthcare Professionals seeking clinical information about Pain Management and Rheumatology for Primary Care.

Speakers
Our presenting national faculty speakers make it their professional goals to enhance the training of primary care clinicians. This Continuing Medical Education program promises to help you learn the most current, best medicine, and techniques for making the diagnosis easier during a 20 minute office visit.

Topics and Objectives

Rheumatology 

Primary Approach to Inflammatory Arthritis
Objectives: 1) Review the differential diagnoses when confronted with a patient who has joint inflammation and discuss various treatment alternatives 2) Identify the various lab tests that we use and how to best interpret them

Crystal-Induced Arthritis
Objectives: 1) Identify how to evaluate and treat patients who present with what appears to be a crystal-induced arthritis diagnosis 2) Discuss treatments, including joint aspiration, synovial fluid analysis and dietary considerations

Osteoarthritis
Objectives: 1) Review the diagnosis of the most common arthritis we see 2) Discuss treatment and new drugs on the horizon, including case reports

Osteoporosis
Objectives: 1) Review the diagnosis, secondary causes, and fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) to assist with the diagnosis and up-to-date treatment 2) Review of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and their interpretation

Fibromyalgia
Objectives: 1) Review this challenging diagnosis 2) Describe approved therapies, as well as, additional non-classic therapies that are used 3) Review the newer diagnostic criteria and compare it to the older one

2021 Update: Opioids and Cannabis
Objectives: 1) Review the ongoing opioid crisis 2) Suggest ways to help guide busy healthcare providers when considering the use of these challenging medications 3) Review awareness of side-effects and the current limitations in available data 4) Cannabis 101

Pain Management

Rational Polypharmacy for Chronic Pain Management
Objectives: 1) Apply new pathophysiologic understanding to treating pain 2) Understand mechanisms of action for the various muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants commonly used to treat various chronic pain states 3) Use case examples to better understand titration and adjustment of adjuvant analgesics

Overview of Opioid Pharmacology, Assessment, and Management
Objectives: 1) Highlight pharmacologic differences between various opioids used for chronic pain management 2) Describe risk factors that may help to predict problematic opioid use, including addiction and misuse 3) Review validated screening tools used to help identify possible aberrant behaviors related to long-term opioid use 4) Understand and utilize Patient Provider Agreements (PPAs) and Prescription Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), as a means of improved monitoring patient use of opioid products

Assessment of Low Back Pain
Objectives: 1) Discuss how a number of structures in the lumbar spine may serve as pain generators, including the disc, facet joint, myofascial, and ligamentous structures 2) Review, demonstrate, and practice basic physical exam techniques used for assessing spine-related pain conditions 3) Differentiate lumbar radiculopathy signs and symptoms from other causes of low back pain, including facet-mediated, soft tissue, and sacroiliac joint pain

Management of Fibromyalgia
Objectives: 1) Become familiar with recent pathophysiology related to mechanisms of fibromyalgia 2) Understand recent clinical criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia in a primary care setting 3) Identify a multidisciplinary approach that can be applied to patients with chronic widespread pain

Pain Management in the Elderly
Objectives: 1) Evaluate pain intensity and measure treatment outcomes in your elderly patients 2) Describe treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis 3) Evaluate the impact of vertebral compression fractures on patient mobility 4) Review non-pharmacologic management strategies with demonstrated efficacy in elderly populations

Approaching Difficult Conversations about Chronic Pain
Objectives: 1) Address a patient who is resistant to change 2) Describe a strategy for treating patients with anxiety around pain therapy 3) Characterize patients with clear addiction 4) Manage patients who are angry or upset in the office 5) Approach patients who have lost self-control

Note: Content is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the activity website for the most current information.