This Clinician Educator is designed to aid primary care clinicians in recognizing the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determining when to refer a patient to a rheumatologist. Side A discusses the role of the primary care clinician in the early diagnosis of RA, and describes how the primary care clinician can work in tandem with the patient's rheumatologist to effectively manage this disease. Side B is designed to help patients understand RA.
After reading this publication, participants should be able to:
- Identify the early signs and symptoms of RA and make a provisional diagnosis
- Describe the role of primary care clinicians in the initial management of patients with RA
Vivian Bykerk, MD
Assistant Professor and Director, Early Arthritis Program
University of Toronto;
Assistant Director, Division of Advanced Therapeutics
Mount Sinai Hospital
Toronto, Canada
Joyce P. Carlone, MN, RN, CFNP, CCRC
Nurse Practitioner
Division of Rheumatology
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Martin M. Miner, MD
Co-Director, Men's Health Center
The Miriam Hospital
Providence, RI
It is the policy of The Chatham Institute to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational programs. All faculty, planners, and managers who affect the content of medical education activities sponsored by The Chatham Institute are required to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. Faculty, planners, and managers not complying with the disclosure policy will not be permitted to participate in this activity.
Financial disclosure information is provided below.
Vivian Bykerk, MD
Advisory Boards: Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Roche, sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, Schering-Plough Corporation, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Consultant: Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Roche, Schering-Plough Corporation, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Research Grants: Abbott Laboratories, Centocor, Inc., Pfizer Inc, Roche, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Speaker Bureaus: Abbott Laboratories, Roche, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Joyce P. Carlone, MN, RN, CFNP, CCRC
Advisory Boards: UCB Pharma, Inc.
Consultant: UCB Pharma, Inc.
Speaker Bureaus: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Martin M. Miner, MD
No real or apparent conflicts to report
Dan Duch, PhD, Medical Director, The Chatham Institute, and Cynthia Fontan, MPA, Education Manager, The Chatham Institute, have no real or apparent relationships to disclose.
All speakers and planners have agreed that this activity will be free of bias.
The Chatham Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Chatham Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The Chatham Institute is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New Jersey State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Provider Number P175-12/09-12. Provider approval is valid through December 31, 2012.
The Chatham Institute LLC is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN), provider number CEP 12433.
This activity is approved for 0.5 contact hours.
Disclaimer: Accreditation refers to educational content only and does not imply endorsement of products by NJSNA, ANCC, CBRN, or The Chatham Institute LLC.
This educational activity is sponsored by The Chatham Institute. Support for this independent educational activity is provided by educational grants from Abbott, Centocor, and Genentech and Biogen Idec.
