Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course: All Activities
$125900
FRC-ALL-EXP25
Basic & Clinical Sciences, Infections & Related Arthritides, Lupus, Nonarticular & Regional Musculoskeletal Disorders, Osteoarthritis & Related Disorders, Other Rheumatic & Connective Tissue Disorders, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 12:00 AM
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11:55 PM
CME, Participation
Advanced Practice Nurses, Counselors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Office Managers / Staff, Pharmacists, Practice Administrators, Primary Care Providers, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, Psychologists, Researchers, Residents, Social Workers / Community Health Workers
Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course
12.00

Program Information

The Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course is a series of (10) online learning activities developed to provide foundational knowledge and develop skills needed for professionals new to rheumatology to succeed in clinical practice.  The course provides information on signs, symptoms, and treatments for the most common forms of rheumatic disease, and addresses key areas such as pain management, psychosocial challenges, rehabilitation, and self-management support strategies.  This course is also useful for experienced rheumatology professionals looking for a refresher on these key areas of practice.

*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 registered nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, office staff, physical therapists, pharmacists, physician assistants, primary care physicians, psychologists, research associates, social workers, and students who have been working in rheumatology for less than two years.


Learning Objectives

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

  • Apply evidence-based rheumatological knowledge to relevant clinical situations with people who have rheumatic diseases
  • Describe at least one non-pharmacological intervention useful in the treatment of people with rheumatic diseases
  • Identify at least one situation where collaboration with other members of the healthcare team is important to improve patient outcomes


Registration Information

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


Fundamentals of Rheumatology Activities


CME Information

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 1.25 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).


Faculty & 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. 

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

The faculty reported the following disclosures:

Scientific Editor
Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
Clarity Consulting and Communications
Atlanta, Georgia 

Associate Editor
Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN
University of Michigan Rheumatology
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Activity 1 –  Discover the Basics: Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation

  • Author
    • Deeba Minhas, MD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers
    • Marcy Bolster, MD – AbbVie2; American Board of Internal Medicine: Chair, ABIM Rheumatology Board6; Amgen2; Corbus Pharmaceuticals2; Cumberland2; Genentech2; Gilead Sciences5; Johnson & Johnson1; Pfizer2 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Laurie Hughell, MPH, PA-C - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 2 – Explore Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Adults and Children 

  • Authors
    • Betsy Roth-Wojcicki, CPNP, MS - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Benjamin J. Smith, PA-C, DFAAPA - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Karla B. Jones, CPNP, RN –  No relevant financial relationships to disclose
    • Julie Keegan-Strosser, PA-C - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Activity 3 –  Differentiate Non-Inflammatory Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Soft Tissue Disorders

  • Author
    • Kori Dewing, ARNP, DNP – No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose  
    • Julie Keegan-Strosser, PA-C - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Donna Everix, MS, MPH, PT - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose  

Activity 4 –  Assess your Patient with Rheumatic Disease 

  • Authors
    • Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Karen Huisinga, MN, ARNP, FNP-C - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Carole Dodge, CHT, OT - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Courtney Kremer, BSN, CPNP, MSN - Naturally Chiropractic4
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 5 –  Address Psychosocial Impact to Enhance Patient Outcomes 

  • Author
    • Adena Batterman, LCSW - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers  
    • Paul Adam, MSW - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Susan Bartlett, PhD Jannsen8; Merck8; Organon Canada8; Pfizer5 
    • Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 6 –  Counsel your Patient on Rheumatology Medications

  • Author
    • Jessica Farrell, PharmD – AbbVie8; Cumberland Pharmaceuticals5 8; Gilead Sciences5; Jannsen9; Pfizer8
  • Editors and Reviewers
    • Susan Chrostowski, ANP-C, APRN, DNP - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
    • Ali Porter, PharmD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Activity 7 –  Help Your Patient Manage their Pain  

  • Author
    • Afton Hassett, PsyD - Precision Health Economics5 
  • Editors and Reviewers  
    • Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Jillian Rose, PhD, LCSW - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Terence Starz, ME - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 8 –  Use Rehabilitation to Improve your Patient’s Function, Fatigue, and Pain 

  • Authors
    • Talitha Black, MA, OTR/L - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Carol A. Oatis, PT, PhD - Lippincott Williams and Wilkins publisher7 
  • Editors and Reviewers  
    • Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Carole Dodge, CHT, OT - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Louise Thoma, DPT, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 9 –  Stimulate and Support your Patient’s Self-Management 

  • Author
    • Teresa J. Brady, PhD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
  • Editors and Reviewers  
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Brenda Frie - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Gregory Taylor - Pending review – No relevant financial relationships to disclose 

Activity 10 –  Optimize Care for your Pediatric Patient 

  • Author
    • Sandra Mintz, RN, BSN-RC 
  • Editors and Reviewers  
    • Emily Delzell - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Alejandra Hernandez, BSN, RN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Norma Liburd, APRN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose 
    • Debra B. Rizzo, APRN, FNP-BC, MSN - No relevant financial relationships to disclose

*All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Online Activity Refund Policy

  • Requests for cancellations and refunds must be received in writing to education@rheumatology.org within 24 hours of the online activity enrollment date.
  • Completed online activities are not eligible for a refund. 
  • Refunds will be subject to an administration fee per person and per activity: 15% for members; 30% for potential members.
  • Canceled online activities are nontransferable.

FRC01: Discover the Basics: Immunology, Autoimmunity, & Inflammation

Get a foundation of all the basics, including the basics of innate and adaptive immunity, the physiologic processes of inflammation, immunity, and immune deregulation, and the basics of joint structure.

FRC02: Explore Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Adults and Children

From childhood to adulthood, this next activity explores identifying key signs and symptoms, defining the three major types of rheumatic disease, and establishing treatment goals in children and adults.

FRC03: Differentiate Non-Inflammatory Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, & Soft Tissue Disorders

The third activity of the ARP-FRC series will focus on distinguishing the soft tissue conditions commonly seen in rheumatology, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and bursitis or tendonitis.

FRC04: Assess Your Patient With Rheumatic Disease

Learn assessment components for rheumatic disease patients, proper interview processes with a focus on involving the patient in care, and the procedure for assessing a joint exam with abnormal findings.

FRC05: Address Psychosocial Impact to Enhance Patient Outcomes

Patients with rheumatic diseases need guidance, knowledge, support, resources, and compassion. This activity will describe the multiple ways rheumatic disease can impact a person and their well-being.

FRC06: Counsel Your Patient on Rheumatology Medications

An expert understanding of medications used to treat rheumatology patients is essential. Learn more about dosages, patient safety concerns, potential medication errors, precautions, warnings, and more.

FRC07: Help Your Patient Manage Their Pain

As medical professionals, you are trained to find solutions for patients’ pain. This activity focuses on the impact of pain, different types of pain, and how to personalize your treatment per patient.

FRC08: Use Rehabilitation to Improve Your Patients Function, Fatigue, & Pain

Improving quality of life for rheumatic disease patients should be top priority. Discover how to help your patients restore function, identify therapies and tools, and how to refer for rehabilitation.

FRC09: Stimulate & Support Your Patient's Self-Management

Help your patient self-manage. This crucial element in the patient’s care plan can help them feel confident. Learn the skills, activities, and support programs for self-management in this activity.

FRC10: Optimize Care for Your Pediatric Patient

The final activity of the series will focus on everything you need to know about coordination of care throughout the care continuum for children, adolescents, and young adults with rheumatic diseases.