To complete the on-line evaluation and credit request form and to print your certificate, choose the appropriate link:
The Outcome Tool Survey is now available for "Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Primary Care Setting" participants
This series is provided by 
Early diagnosis and treatment within the first few months of disease initiation is critical in preventing joint damage and disease progression; yet, on average, patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience symptoms for nine to twelve months before a diagnosis is made. Since RA can result in long-term joint damage in as little as four to six months if left untreated, most RA patients will suffer long-term joint damage.
This program will strive to increase the experience and expertise of primary care in the early and accurate diagnosis of RA - distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis from undifferentiated polyarthritis. Improved diagnostic technologies enable providers to more effectively screen and diagnose in the early stages of RA, shifting treatment from a reactive approach to a more proactive approach using a broader range of treatment strategies. Providers must also understand the differential diagnosis, as early RA can mimic the symptoms of many diseases and conditions.
Target Audience
This program is intended for family practitioners, general internists, advanced nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other healthcare providers.
Program Objectives
- Review the role of primary care in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its comorbidities
- Identify the clinical characteristics of RA and the concept of pattern recognition as it applies to chronic inflammatory arthritis
- Identify histologic, anatomic, and physiologic considerations that contribute to the pathogenesis of RA
- Describe treatment goals and/or outcome measures for managing RA
- Devise strategies for implementing RA therapies to maximize their safety and efficacy
- Apply evidence and best practices to manage the complexities of RA in the primary care setting
- Describe the systemic complications of RA and integrate the treatment of comorbidities into patients' overall treatment plan
Faculty
John J. Cush, MD
Director of Clinical Rheumatology
Baylor Research Institute
Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology
Baylor University Medical Center
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Gregory J. Phillips, MD, FACP
Private Practice
Internal Medicine
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, Texas
Release and Termination Dates
Release: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM ET
Termination: Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Accreditation
Physician
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing
The Camenae Group, Inc, is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity meets Type I criteria for mandatory continuing education requirements toward relicensure as established by the Board of Nursing.
The Camenae Group, Inc. provides up to 4.5 contact hours for successful completion of this educational activity (0.5 contact hours for each Part).
This activity is supported by educational donations provided by Amgen and Pfizer Inc. |
