Rheumatoid Arthritis Educational Challenge Webcast - a 1-hour presentation from the live regional meetings

Faculty

Needs Statement

There is a need to educate healthcare professionals on the benefits of effective patient communication to improve adherence, compliance, and quality of life for their patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, recognizing the importance of clinical measures in assessing disease progression and therapeutic effect, appropriate use of biologic/tumor necrosis factor-a antagonist and understanding how biologic therapy impacts patient care and outcomes is paramount. This education will target changing patients’ health-related behaviors in ways that improve health, adherence and compliance with treatment.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for rheumatologists, primary care physicians, and other health care professionals who treat patients with RA.

Please note if you have particpated in the Live VHATV broadcast you are not eligible to receive credit for this webcast.

Objectives

1. IDENTIFY the benefits of an aggressive treatment-to-target strategy in the early management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA);
2. APPLY appropriate integrated referral and care pathways for multidisciplinary management of patients with RA and comorbid conditions, including atypical cases;
3. UTILIZE risk/benefit profiles and appropriate administration of biologic/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonist therapies for the management of patients with RA;
4. DEMONSTRATE appropriate patient-physician communication skills for discussing the rationale, benefits, and risks of biologic/TNF-alpha antagonist therapies in RA.

Accreditation

CME
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Gullapalli & Associates. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Cohen serves on the speakers bureau for Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Amgen Inc., Genentech, Inc., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, (Spouse: Speaker’s bureau—Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Amgen Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Centocor, Inc., Genentech, Inc. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals); and has received consultation fees from Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Amgen Inc., Genentech, Inc., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Mease serves on the speaker's bureau for Amgen, Abbott, Biogen Idec., Bristol Myers Squibb, Centocor, Genetech and Wyeth; he has received research support from Amgen, Abbott, Biogen Idec., Centocor, Genentech, Roche, Wyeth and Bristol Myers Squibb; and has received consultation fees from Amgen, Abbott, Biogen Idec., Centocor, Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Wyeth and UCB Pharma.

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky and Gullapalli & Associates. Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Amgen Inc..