Case Challenges in the Identification and Initial Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatology
Curriculum:
Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Clinical Setting
Credits:
0.5 ACPE 0.5 ANCC Contact Hours 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)
Launch Date:
May 08, 2018
Expiration Date:
The accreditation for this activity has expired.

Primary Audience:

This activity will target key members of the rheumatology care team including: rheumatologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and pharmacists who care for patients with RA

Relevant Terms:

Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD

Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD
CME Course Director
Professor of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA

Dr. Neogi is a Professor of Medicine in the Boston University School of Medicine, as well as a Professor of Epidemiology in the Boston University School of Public Health. She is presently Associate Chair of the Clinical Epidemiology Research and Training Unit, and a member of the Section of Rheumatology. She is also on the board of and/or member numerous national and international arthritis-related organizations and committees. Dr. Neogi is internationally recognized for her expertise in the epidemiology and management of osteoarthritis, mechanisms of osteoarthritis-related pain, risk factors and management of gout, and classification criteria and outcome measures for various rheumatic diseases. Dr. Neogi has an active NIH-funded research program, mentors numerous trainees and junior faculty, and is involved in teaching students and trainees.
 
 

Jon T. Giles, MD, MPH

Jon T. Giles, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology
Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY

Dr. Giles is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University where he directs the Clinical Research Program in Inflammatory Arthritis. His research interests are focused primarily on rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Current projects center around understanding the inflammatory and non-inflammatory determinants of body composition abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis and their subsequent effects on health outcomes. Other current and past research involve the investigation of accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients, elucidating the immunologic determinants of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease, understanding the risks of biologic therapeutic use for patients undergoing surgery, and exploring the musculoskeletal side-effects of a class of medications used to suppress estrogen in women with certain forms of breast cancer. He is the recipient of major grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the Rheumatology Research Foundation, and the Arthritis Foundation.
 

Naomi Amudala, RN, FNP-BC

Naomi Amudala, RN, FNP-BC
CNE Course Advisor
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Vasculitis Center/Rheumatology
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA

Ms. Amudala received her Master’s degree in Nursing from MGH Institute of Health Professions and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine. Ms. Amudala is a nurse practitioner who specializes in vasculitis, working in partnership with Dr. Monach at the Boston University Vasculitis Center. She is co-investigator in a number of longitudinal and clinical trials for patients with vasculitis. As a natural extension of her work in vasculitis, she also cares for patients with the full range of rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, gout, and lupus. A strong believer in patient autonomy, Ms. Amudala's goal is to support and guide the patient’s decision-making process and encourage them to actively participate in their medical care.
 
 
 

Jinoos Yazdany, MD, MPH

Jinoos Yazdany, MD, MPH
Robert L. Kroc Endowed Chair in Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Diseases
Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology
Co-Director UCSF Lupus Clinic
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, CA

Dr. Yazdany is the Robert L. Kroc Endowed Chair of Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Diseases and Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a rheumatologist and health services researcher with expertise in quality measurement and health care improvement. She has an active NIH and AHRQ-funded research program and works with trainees in rheumatology, epidemiology, data science and clinical informatics. She has served as co-Chair of the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) Quality Measures Subcommittee, on the ACR's Quality of Care Committee, and as Chair of the ACR's National Registry Research and Publications Committee. She is currently Chair of ACR’s Registries and Health IT committee which oversees implementation of the RISE registry.  
 
 
1. Implement guideline-based best practices in the identification and management of patients with RA.

STATEMENT OF NEED
In the current rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment landscape, there are many treatment options available, but as RA is a chronic disease, many patients may not always respond adequately or fully to their initial or ongoing treatments. Choosing appropriate treatment remains a challenge, particularly in cases of inadequate understanding of various treatment profiles and recommendations along with an ongoing lack of expert consensus. Over the past few years, comparative effectiveness trials and treat-to-target approaches have become essential needs in RA in order to deliver the most appropriate care on an individualized basis. It is imperative that healthcare professionals understand these unmet needs, and how overcoming them can favorably affect treatment decisions and patient outcomes.
 
Led by an internationally renowned faculty team of rheumatology/arthritis experts, the goal of this this interprofessional web-based curriculum is to significantly improve RA management skills of participants through the use of a unique educational design that challenges the learner to re-examine their clinical decision-making process across multiple patient scenarios and specifically, the impact of integrating real-world data and experiences, with a focus on optimizing the quality of the care delivered.
 
FACULTY DISCLOSURES
Boston University School of Medicine asks all individuals involved in the development and presentation of Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities to disclose all relevant relationships with commercial interests. This information is disclosed to CME activity participants. Boston University School of Medicine has procedures to resolve all relevant conflicts of interest. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed.  
 
Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD
CME Course Director
Professor of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA
Dr. Neogi is a consultant for Pfizer and for Novartis. She does not plan on discussing unlabeled/investigational uses of a commercial product.
 
Jon T. Giles, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology
Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY
Dr. Giles receives grant support from Pfizer.  He is a consultant for Genentech and for Lilly. He does not plan on discussing unlabeled/investigational uses of a commercial product.
 
Naomi Amudala, RN, FNP-BC
CNE Course Advisor
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Vasculitis Center/Rheumatology
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA
Ms. Amudala has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. She does not plan on discussing unlabeled/investigational uses of a commercial product.
 
Jinoos Yazdany, MD, MPH
Robert L. Kroc Endowed Chair in Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Diseases
Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology
Co-Director UCSF Lupus Clinic
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, CA
Dr. Yazdany is a research consultant for Astra Zeneca and recipient of an Independent Investigator Award from PfizerShe does not plan on discussing unlabeled/investigational uses of a commercial product.
 
ACCREDITED PROVIDER DISCLOSURES
Independent Reviewer: Jason Worcester, MD, Boston University School of Medicine
Medical Writer/Editor: Christopher Drury, MA, The Quill Consulting, LLC, Norfolk, MA
 
The Planning Committee for this activity included Jason Worcester, MD, Jody Walker, MS, Dana Frazier, CHCP, BBA, Carmela A. Townsend, DNP, MS/MBA, RN, Lead Nurse Planner, of Boston University School of Medicine; and Christopher Drury, MA, of The Quill Consulting, LLC. None of the aforementioned members of the Planning Committee have any relevant relationships to disclose.
 
ACCREDITATION STATEMENTS
ACCME
Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Boston University School of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
ANCC
Continuing Nursing Education Provider Unit, Boston University School of Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Contact Hours: 0.5 of which 0.5 is eligible for pharmacology credit.
 
ACPE
The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is a knowledge-based educational activity. Pharmacists will receive 0.50 Contact Hour (0.05 CEU) for each educational activity. 
UAN: 0060-9999-18-027-H01-P               0.50 Contact Hours (.05 CEUs)
 
HOW TO RECEIVE ACCME/ANCC CREDIT
In order to successfully complete this activity, you are required to read the entire online module, answer all questions within the module, and then complete the posttest and evaluation. CME/CNE credits will be awarded provided a score of 70% or better is achieved.  A certificate of credit is available for immediate download to those who successfully complete the examination, and answer the evaluation questions.
 
HOW TO RECEIVE ACPE CREDIT
In order to successfully complete this activity, participants are required to read the entire online module, answer all questions within the module, and then complete the posttest and evaluation. CE credits will be awarded provided a score of 70% or better is achieved. Another program evaluation must be completed at www.uripharmacycpd.org within 60 days of the program completion date in order to receive CE credit.  CE credit will be transferred to the CPE Monitor upon successful completion of the program evaluation. Transfer of CE credit should be verified at mycpemonitor.net where CE statements are available to print. Please refer to the evaluation instructions that follow for completing program evaluations and reporting CE credit.
  1. Go to the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Continuing Professional Development  Learning Management System located at www.uripharmacycpd.org and create an account using your email address and pharmacy license number.*  Enter all of the required account information.  Verify that your date of birth and NABP ID Number are entered correctly. Click the “Update Account” button at the bottom of the page to save the account information. 
  2. Complete the program evaluations.  Evaluations must be completed within 60 days of the program.
    • Log onto www.uripharmacycpd.org
    • Select Available Online Activities and select the program title / access code (Ensure you have the correct CPE number UAN: 0060-9999-18-027-H01-P; 0.50 Contact Hours (.05 CEUs)
    • Select Take Post-Test. If prompted, enter the program evaluation code and complete program evaluation
    • Select submit at the bottom of the page
    • You will receive a confirmation message of evaluation completion and notification that your ce data was reported to the CPE Monitor.
    • Please note: ACPE will only accept CPE data that is reported by providers within 60 days of completing the home-study. CPE data is reported immediately upon your completion of this evaluation although it may take 48-72 hours to appear in your CPE Monitor profile.  You will be notified of any problems transmitting your participant data via email. Most transmission problems are related to errors in transcribing date of birth and/or NABP ID number. It is strongly recommended that you check your profile in the CPE Monitor to verify your participation in this program has been reported.
    • *Your pharmacy license number, date of birth and NABP ID number are required to create an account in the URI CPD online registration and evaluation system in order to report participant data to the CPE Monitor.  Pharmacy license numbers will not be used for any other purpose.
COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
 
DISCLAIMER
THIS CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. IN NO EVENT SHALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE.  NO PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS BEING ESTABLISHED.
COURSE VIEWING REQUIREMENTS
Supported Browsers:
Internet Explorer 8.0+ for Windows 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and above
Google Chrome 28.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Mozilla Firefox 23.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Safari 6.0+ for Mac OSX 10.7 and above
 
Supported Phones & Tablets:
Android 4.0.3 and above
iPhone/iPad with iOS 6.1 or above.