Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of this Potentially Debilitating Condition
RA is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology that affects the body’s synovial joints. The initial RA symptoms usually start with pain, stiffness and swelling of joint areas. RA may progress systemically with patients experiencing “flu like” symptoms. These symptoms are at times debilitating and may affect the patient’s capacity to perform activities of daily living, along with the inability to perform physical work. There is no cure for RA; the treatment focus is to manage the symptoms with exercises, medications, or surgery. In this presentation, learn about the RA symptoms, how to diagnose the disorder and its treatment strategies.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to
- Identify the symptoms of RA
- Gain an understanding of how to diagnose RA
- Summarize RA treatment strategies
Faculty Listing
Richard D. Brasington, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director of Clinical Rheumatology
Fellowship Program Director
Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial SupportSM, OptumHealth Education requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or their spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the activity content over which the individual has control.
OptumHealth Education ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.
Faculty Disclosure
Richard D. Brasington, MD has reported the following:
Grant/Research Support: Glaxo Smith Kline, Mallinckrodt
Speakers’ Bureau: Pfizer
Activity Planners
Sarah Chart-Hart, RN
Senior Director
OptumHealth Education
Rebecca Gleason, RN, CCM
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education
Martha L. New, BSN, RN, CCTC
Transplant Case Coordinator
Optum
Arlene Rome, RN, BSN
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education
Anne M. Sendaydiego, PharmD
AMS Consulting, LLC
Louisville, Kentucky
V. Silverstein, MD
Eagle Creek Medical Communications
Durham, North Carolina
Activity Planner Disclosures
Ms Chart, Ms Gleason, Ms New and Ms Rome have indicated that they are employees of and own stock in UnitedHealth Group.
Drs Sendaydiego and Silverstein have indicated that they have no relevant financial relationships.
Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this activity.
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.
Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the activity, which includes the following:
- Completing the entire activity
- Completing the Pre- and Post-Activity Assessments, Activity Evaluation, and Application for Certificate of Credit forms
You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking “Begin” and viewing the “CE Info”; then follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save, or print your certificate of participation. The Area of Practice you indicated in your profile corresponds with your certificate type. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found under “My Account”, “My Activities.”
Accreditation Statement
OptumHealth Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation Statements
Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 0.75 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.
Nurse Practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Case Managers
Please note: In accordance with the CCMC policy, learners are required to take a minimum of one full hour (60 minutes) of continuing education (CE) from the activity: “24th Annual National Conference” to be awarded CCMC credit.
Pharmacists
This activity is approved for 0.75 contact hour(s) ([0.075] CEU) in states that recognize ACPE.
Attending the full program will earn 0.75 contact hour(s). Unique Activity Number(s): 0860-0000-15-028-H01-P
Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been pre-approved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization to which you wish you apply credit.
Method for Calculating CE Credit
CE credit was calculated by the complexity of content.
Provided By
This activity is provided by OptumHealth Education.
Commercial Support
There was no commercial support received for this activity.
Hardware/Software Requirements
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Target Audience
This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of case managers, nurses, pharmacists, physicians and other health care professionals who are interested in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
This activity consists of recorded presentations from the "24th Annual National Conference" held in Minneapolis, MN on September 29–October 1, 2015.
Available Credit
- 0.75 ACPE - Pharmacists
- 0.75 AMA - Physicians
- 0.75 ANCC - Nurses
- 0.75 Attendance - General Attendance
- 0.75 CCMC - General - Case Managers