PROVIDER STATEMENT

This CME activity for ACCME credit is provided by Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. This CE activity for ANCC and AANP credit is jointly provided by Global Education Group and Integrity Continuing Education, Inc.

SUPPORTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic, relapsing/remitting inflammatory rheumatic disease that causes low back pain. Most patients develop axSpA in the prime of their lives with 20 to 30 years old being the most common age of onset. Unfortunately, patients with axSpA wait, on average, 5 to 7 years before being diagnosed, with evidence suggesting women wait significantly longer than men. Diagnostic delay and lack of treatment can lead to spinal and sacroiliac joint fusion, abnormal formation of new bone, and disability. This problem is exacerbated by the growing shortage of rheumatologic providers. One way to offset this imbalance is the training of nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PAs) in rheumatology. These advanced practice providers can achieve high levels of independence and clinical expertise in the management of rheumatic diseases, with responsibilities ranging from early diagnosis and clinical workups to prescribing medications. In this program, NPs and PAs will learn to differentiate inflammatory from noninflammatory pain, evaluate the response to therapy, and make treatment recommendations in axSpA, with the ultimate goals of improving patients’ access to rheumatology services and their quality of care.

FACULTY

Angela L. Borger, DNP, FNP-BC, DNC Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the Dermatoloy Nurses’ Association WellSpan Health, Department of Rheumatology Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Release date: August 31, 2022 Expiration date: August 31, 2023 Estimated time to complete activity: 60 minutes

TARGET AUDIENCE

This educational initiative is designed for nurse practitioners, advance practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants who work in primary care and manage patients with axSpA.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

Outline methods for differentiating between mechanical and inflammatory back pain using ASAS classification criteria for axSpA, based on clinical presentation, laboratory studies, and appropriate imaging
Explain how axSpA manifests differently in women in order to facilitate a timelier diagnosis and avoid worsening symptoms
Discuss how to manage the extra-articular manifestations and quality-of-life concerns that are common in patients with axSpA
List the guideline recommendations and clinical trial evidence to the management of axSpA

DIRECTIONS TO LEARNER

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period of August 31, 2022 through August 31, 2023, participants must:

Read the learning objectives
Complete the pretest
Study the educational activity
Complete the posttest and the evaluation form

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed posttest with a score of 70% or better.

MEDIA

Internet

ACCREDITATION

Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Standards of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) through the joint providership of Global Education Group and Integrity Continuing Education. Global Education Group is accredited by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as an approved provider of nurse practitioner continuing education. Provider number: 110121. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (which includes 0.2 hour of pharmacology). Nursing Continuing Education Global Education Group is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This educational activity for 1.0 contact hour is provided by Global Education Group. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physician Continuing Education

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION

Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For information about ACCME accreditation of this activity, please contact Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. at (855) 835-4004 or cme@integrityce.com. For information about AANP or ANCC accreditation of this activity, please contact Global Education Group at (303) 395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. and Global Education Group, requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified relevant financial relationships are thoroughly vetted by Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated. The following faculty/planners reported the financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they have with ineligible companies related to the content of this CME activity: Angela L. Borger, DNP, FNP-BC, DNC, has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report. The following project managers/planners: Olivia Benevento, Lindsay Borvansky, Ashley Cann, Donna Fausak, Andrea Funk, Liddy Knight, Rhys Williams, RN, MSN, FNP, Kristin Delisi, NP, Michelle Rizzo, ELS, and Patima Tanapat, PhD reported that they have no financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with ineligible companies related to the content of this CE 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. Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. and Global Education Group 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.

PRIVACY POLICY

When you participate in an online educational activity sponsored by Integrity Continuing Education, Inc., you will be asked for your name, degree(s), affiliation(s), street address, telephone number and…(continued)

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Processor: Intel Pentium 4, 2.33 + GHz (or equivalent) Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 10, and Mac OS Plug-in: Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10

Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10 plug-in should be downloaded
Click on the “Agree and install now” button after unchecking the optional McAfee Security Scan Plus

For optimal performance, the use of Internet Explorer below 8 is not recommended For a full listing of recommended operating systems, browsers, and system configurations, please click on the link below: Click here for more information on minimum system requirements

DISCLAIMER

The information provided at this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.

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