The Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course is a series of 10 activities that provide foundational knowledge and help develop skills that professionals new to rheumatology need to succeed in clinical practice.  Maintaining or improving function and quality of life for rheumatic disease patients should be top priority. This activity will introduce key tools and techniques from the rehabilitation toolbox.  It will also discuss when and how to refer to rehabilitation professionals and introduce other members of the interprofessional rheumatology team. FUNDAMENTALS OF RHEUMATOLOGY COURSE This activity is part of a series. See the other activities in the series below. * Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course - All Activities * Activity 1 –  Discover the Basics: Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation * Activity 2 – Explore Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Adults and Children * Activity 3 –  Differentiate Non-Inflammatory Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Soft Tissue Disorders * Activity 4 –  Assess your Patient with Rheumatic Disease * Activity 5 –  Address Psychosocial Impact to Enhance Patient Outcomes * Activity 6 –  Counsel your Patient on Rheumatology Medications * Activity 7 –  Help Your Patient Manage Their Pain * Activity 8 –  Use Rehabilitation to Improve Your Patient’s Function, Fatigue, and Pain * Activity 9 –  Stimulate and Support Your Patient’s Self-Management * Activity 10 –  Optimize Care for Your Pediatric Patient Registration is complimentary for ACR/ARP members. If you are not a member, consider joining ACR/ARP. TARGET AUDIENCE Professionals looking to expand their understanding of interdisciplinary rheumatology care: nurses, occupational therapists, office managers and staff, physical therapists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, practice administrators, psychologists, researchers, social workers and community health workers, epidemiologists, health educators, health services researchers, medical assistants, rheumatology interprofessionals, and students. Experienced professionals may also find the activity to be a helpful review. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: * Describe the importance of maintaining or restoring function in rheumatic disease care * Identify key therapeutic techniques and tools in the rehabilitation toolkit for adults and children with rheumatic diseases * Explain when and why to refer rheumatology patients to rehabilitation professionals * Describe key roles of members of the interprofessional team involved in comprehensive rheumatology care CE & MOC INFORMATION CME ACCME ACCREDITATION STATEMENT The American College of Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  See the ACRs CME Mission Statement. For more information, download the AMA PRA Booklet. AMA DESIGNATION STATEMENT The American College of Rheumatology designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 1.00 _AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)_™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. _CME credit must be claimed by June 24, 2028, at 11:59 PM ET._ FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP DISCLOSURES 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.   NATURE OF FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS All individuals that participate in an ACR-sponsored activity and are able to change content or influence the content of the activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationships with ineligible companies including, but not limited to: * Advisor or review panel member * Consultant * Employee * Officer or Board Member * Grant/research support * Speaker/honoraria includes speaker’s bureau, symposia, and expert witness * Independent contractor * Executive role and/or ownership interest * Royalties and/or patent beneficiary * Intellectual property/patents * Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan * Private investigator * Expert witness * Equity interest * Other: _specify details_  None: Has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.  All participants that created and/or were able to influence the content and delivery of this activity reported the following disclosures. All of the relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated. FRC Relaunch 2025 Financial Relationship Disclosures. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL SUPPORT No commercial support was provided for this activity. See industry engagement opportunities and benefits of supporting the ACR. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY POLICIES See ACR educational activity policies, including the online enduring activity refund policy.

The Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course is a series of 10 activities that provide foundational knowledge and help develop skills that professionals new to rheumatology need to succeed in clinical practice.  Patients make self-management decisions each day.  This activity focuses on strategies you can use in routine clinical practice to guide and support your patients self-management efforts. It also introduces self-management education and other support programs in the community to help patients develop self-management knowledge, confidence, and skills. FUNDAMENTALS OF RHEUMATOLOGY COURSE This activity is part of a series. See the other activities in the series below. * Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course - All Activities * Activity 1 –  Discover the Basics: Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation * Activity 2 – Explore Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Adults and Children * Activity 3 –  Differentiate Non-Inflammatory Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Soft Tissue Disorders * Activity 4 –  Assess your Patient with Rheumatic Disease * Activity 5 –  Address Psychosocial Impact to Enhance Patient Outcomes * Activity 6 –  Counsel your Patient on Rheumatology Medications * Activity 7 –  Help Your Patient Manage Their Pain * Activity 8 –  Use Rehabilitation to Improve Your Patient’s Function, Fatigue, and Pain * Activity 9 –  Stimulate and Support Your Patient’s Self-Management * Activity 10 –  Optimize Care for Your Pediatric Patient Registration is complimentary for ACR/ARP members. If you are not a member, consider joining ACR/ARP. TARGET AUDIENCE Professionals looking to expand their understanding of interdisciplinary rheumatology care: nurses, occupational therapists, office managers and staff, physical therapists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, practice administrators, psychologists, researchers, social workers and community health workers, epidemiologists, health educators, health services researchers, medical assistants, rheumatology interprofessionals, and students. Experienced professionals may also find the activity to be a helpful review. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: * Distinguish between patient self-management and multidimensional self- management support * Identify core self-management and self-management support skills and activities * Discuss at least two practical strategies to incorporate self-management support into routine clinical practice * Describe structured self-management education and other support programs that can assist patients in developing self-management knowledge, confidence, and skills CE & MOC INFORMATION CME ACCME ACCREDITATION STATEMENT The American College of Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  See the ACRs CME Mission Statement. For more information, download the AMA PRA Booklet. AMA DESIGNATION STATEMENT The American College of Rheumatology designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 1.25 _AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)_™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. _CME credit must be claimed by June 24, 2028, at 11:59 PM ET._ FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP DISCLOSURES 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.   NATURE OF FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS All individuals that participate in an ACR-sponsored activity and are able to change content or influence the content of the activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationships with ineligible companies including, but not limited to: * Advisor or review panel member * Consultant * Employee * Officer or Board Member * Grant/research support * Speaker/honoraria includes speaker’s bureau, symposia, and expert witness * Independent contractor * Executive role and/or ownership interest * Royalties and/or patent beneficiary * Intellectual property/patents * Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profit corporation or self-directed pension plan * Private investigator * Expert witness * Equity interest * Other: _specify details_  None: Has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.  All participants that created and/or were able to influence the content and delivery of this activity reported the following disclosures. All of the relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated. FRC Relaunch 2025 Financial Relationship Disclosures. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL SUPPORT No commercial support was provided for this activity. See industry engagement opportunities and benefits of supporting the ACR. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY POLICIES See ACR educational activity policies, including the online enduring activity refund policy.