Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis – 3 Hours

Description

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a complex and ever-changing disease, and its treatment options are just as intricate. The treatment plan depends on the disease’s severity, the injury’s location, comorbidities or contraindications, the cost of the drug, and the need for monotherapy or a combination of drugs. This educational activity will cover the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. We will review the current ACR guidelines for treatment and the latest therapies available. Additionally, we will discuss the methods used to measure and monitor the effectiveness of treatment and provide patient education.

Upon completion of the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis course, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be able to: 

• Discuss lifestyle changes and non-pharmacologic treatments, particularly exercise and changes in diet, that can slow disease progression
• Review presenting symptoms in early and late stages of RA
• Recognize treatment goals and the importance of monitoring
• Identify novel and upcoming agents in therapy
• Describe the pathophysiology and etiology of rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms of inflammation, joint swelling, and cartilage damage.
• Consider differences between different DMARDs (traditional or non-biologic, biologic, and combination regimens), including mechanisms of action, side effects, and routes of administration.
• List the benefits of precision medicine and individualized therapy on treatment outcomes.
• Define guidelines for tapering and potentially discontinuing DMARD therapy in disease remission.
• Categorize disease severity
• Assess a patient’s risk of CVD once diagnosed with RA
• Understand diagnostic criteria and parameters for remission
• Distinguish between disease stages (early and established) and identify pharmacologic treatments appropriate for each

Author: Alyssa Yousif, PharmD

Contact Hours: 3 Hours 

Activity Type: Knowledge-Based Home Study 

Instructional Methods:  Online Independent Self-Study (Training + Post-Test)

Target Audience: Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP), and Nurse Practitioners (NP)

Cost: $20 / Participant

UAN: Pharmacist: 0384-9999-23-096-H01-P Technicians: 0384-9999-23-096-H01-T

Release Date: 10/06/2023               Expiration Date: 10/06/2026

Course Completion Certificate:  A minimum passing score of 70% is required for course completion. A Printable (PDF) Certificate By Email. Credit will be reported to the CPE monitor within 30 days of completion.

The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing education.

NPTA approves Biologix Solutions LLC as a Joint Provider of continuing pharmacy education. Approval

Disclaimers: Philip Gregory has no actual or potential conflict of interest about this program. This program received no commercial support and has been peer-reviewed to ensure non-commercialization.

Cancellation / Refund Policy: By completing your purchase from Biologix Solutions LLC through PayPal, you agree that you are purchasing digital, non-tangible product/service/training courses and, as such, are not entitled to a refund once accessed. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by phone or email before purchasing the online course.