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Clinical Updates on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatology
Curriculum:
Implementing the Treat-to-Target Approach in RA Management in Clinical Practice
Credits:
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)
Launch Date:
December 23, 2015
Expiration Date:
The accreditation for this activity has expired.

Primary Audience:

Rheumatologists with an interest in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Relevant Terms:

Rheumatoid arthritis, patient treatment response, biologic DMARD therapy, non-biologic DMARD therapy, monotherapy, methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, remission

Barbara L. Goldstein, MD, MMSc

Barbara L. Goldstein, MD, MMSc
Assistant Professor
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine
Rheumatology Clinic Director
National Jewish Health®
Denver, Colorado

Barbara L. Goldstein, MD, MMSc, is Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, and Rheumatology Clinic Director at National Jewish Health® in Denver, Colorado. She also serves as an instructor at the University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine in Aurora. Dr Goldstein received her medical degree from the University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver and rheumatology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, she received her master of medical sciences degree in translational clinical research from Harvard Medical School in Boston.
 
Dr Goldstein's clinical interests include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and scleroderma. Her clinical research focuses on assessing the increased cardiovascular risks associated with rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic illnesses.
1. Explain how to incorporate into practice a plan for consistently assessing RA patients with both objective and subjective standardized tools to measure patient response to treatment
2. Interpret clinical study results of monotherapy with various DMARDs and biologic agents for moderate to severe RA
3. Evaluate the evidence on treatment switching to determine if changing to a treatment with a different mechanism of action may be effective
4. Tailor therapy to individual patient needs based on disease severity, joint involvement, and functional status to achieve low disease activity or remission

Title: Clinical Updates on Rheumatoid Arthritis
 
Joint Providership Statement:
This activity is jointly provided by Global Education Group and Spire Learning.
    
 
Educational Support:
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech.
 
Program Overview:
In recent years, guidelines have endorsed a treat-to-target approach to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management with the goal of achieving remission or low disease activity early in the disease course. In addition, the number of available therapies has expanded and patients often present with other comorbidities, further complicating RA management.
 
This educational activity will update rheumatologists on:
  • RA Disease Activity Measures and how to adopt them into routine clinical care for monitoring and assessing a patient’s treatment response
  • Determining when to switch treatment regimens to help patients better achieve remission or low disease activity
  • Optimizing treatment regimens to minimize RA disease activity while also considering a patient’s existing comorbidities
Target Audience:
This on-demand, enduring activity is designed for rheumatologists with an interest in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
 
Type of Activity:
Knowledge and Case-Based Learning
 
Estimated time to complete
1.0 hour
 
Fee Information:
There is no fee for this educational activity
 
Learning Objectives:
After completing this activity, the participant should be better about to:
  1. Explain how to incorporate into practice a plan for consistently assessing RA patients with both objective and subjective standardized tools to measure patient response to treatment
  2. Interpret clinical study results of monotherapy with various DMARDs and biologic agents for moderate to severe RA
  3. Evaluate the evidence on treatment switching to determine if changing to a treatment with a different mechanism of action may be effective
  4. Tailor therapy to individual patient needs based on disease severity, joint involvement, and functional status to achieve low disease activity or remission
     
Accreditation Statement:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Spire Learning. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 
Credit Designation:
Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
Global Contact Information:
For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or inquire@globaleducationgroup.com.
 
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest:
Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals and their spouse/life partner who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.
 
Faculty:
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
Barbara L. Goldstein, MD, MMSc, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
 
External Reviewer:
Michelle Goodman, RN, BSN, MBA, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
 
Planners:
The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
 
Global Education Group:
Amanda Glazar, PhD; Laura Gilsdorf, MS; have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
 
Spire Learning:
Jaime Symowicz, PhD; Lisa Conklin; Lauren Waters have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jeanne Prater - Spouse/Partner: Stock Shareholder: Johnson and Johnson; Employee: NovoNordisk
 
Signed disclosures are on file at Global Education Group.
 
Disclaimer:
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
 
Method of Participation and Request for Credit:
In order to receive credit, participants must read the learning objectives, disclosures, and disclaimers; complete the pre-assessment at the start of the activity; participate in the entire activity; complete the post-assessment and evaluation at the conclusion of the activity. Participants must also score at least a 70% on the post-test. Certificates will be available for downloading after the successful completion of this activity.
 
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use:
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Global Education Group (Global) and Spire Learning do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 
 
The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
 
Course Viewing Requirements:
Supported Browsers:
Internet Explorer 9.0+ for Windows 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1
Google Chrome 28.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Mozilla Firefox 23.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux
Safari 6+ for Mac OSX 10.7 and above
Supported Phones & Tablets:
Android 4.0.3 and above
iPhone/iPad with iOS 6.1 or above