The Advanced Rheumatology Course is a comprehensive 19 module educational series, relevant to advanced practice providers and other professionals who need a deeper dive into rheumatology, with a strong focus on advanced information that will 1) help experienced practice providers function well in rheumatology and 2) foster inter-professional collaboration.  This online course is designed to provide advanced comprehensive education to help learners assess and manage patients with rheumatic disease, develop strategies to integrate NP/PAs into rheumatology practice and improve access to care for patients.

*A passing score of 70% or greater on the post-test is required to be eligible to claim CME credits. You can compare your post-test responses to evaluate increased knowledge.

Target Audience

The course was created for nurse practitioners and physician assistants; however, rheumatology fellows-in training, internal medicine residents, medical students, primary care providers and other providers new to rheumatology may also benefit.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following: 

1. Screen patients with pain in order to classify them into three classes, which include inflammatory arthropathies, degenerative and mechanical arthropathies, and nonarticular and central pain processing disorders.
2. Perform a complete medical history, including assessment of a chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family history, social history, use of therapeutics, and review of systems.
3. Conduct a general physical exam for patients with suspected rheumatic disorders.
4. Examine patients with suspected rheumatic disorders including the basic components of a musculoskeletal examination such as inspection/appearance, palpation, range of motion, and functional assessment.
5. Outline a differential diagnosis to create a framework for clinical decision making for patients with rheumatic disorders.
6. Spot worrisome ‘red flags’ for patients with rheumatic disorders.
   
   

Registration Information

To purchase this Advanced Rheumatology activity, click Add to Cart, or you can purchase the full Advanced Rheumatology curriculum.

Accreditation Statement

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation Statement

The ACR designates this enduring online activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Health Professionals

Participants may claim hours to receive a Certificate of Participation for an activity designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

By completing this activity, you provide the ACR permission to share completion data with the ACCME and the certifying board(s).

ACR Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to ensure that Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure educational content is objective, balanced, and guarantee content presented is in the best interest of its learners' and the public, the ACR requires that everyone in a position to control educational content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples can be found at accme.org.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ACR has implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of this CME activity to identify and mitigate all relevant financial relationships for all individuals in a position to control the content of this CME activity.

For this educational activity, all conflicts of interest have been resolved through peer review and revisions to ensure independence, evidence based, fair balance, and absence of commercial bias.

Faculty participating in an ACR-sponsored activity must disclose to the editorial team and audience any financial or other relationship(s) including, but not limited to:

1. Stock, stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan
2. Research grants
3. Employment (full or part-time)
4. Ownership or partnership
5. Consulting fees or other remuneration (payment)
6. Non-remunerative positions of influence such as officer, board member, trustee or public spokesperson
7. Receipt of royalties
8. Speakers’ bureau
9. Other
   

Author(s): 
Megan Lockwood, MD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose