Pain Management and Pharmacology for Primary Care

Pain Management and Pharmacology for Primary Care – 12 Credits 

Overview
This conference is designed to provide primary care clinicians with up-to-date, evidence-based information on commonly encountered issues in Pain Management and Pharmacology, while suggesting pragmatic approaches to clinical management. The discussion-based format of the conference will encourage audience participation through dynamic lectures, case-based studies, and hands-on workshops. Keynote speakers will present and critically assess recent advancements and industry updates in Pain Management and Pharmacology with the goal of enhancing the knowledge-base and core competence of attendees. The successful completion of this interactive program diagnosing, treating, and prescribing the most effective courses of treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.

Target Audience
All Physicians and other Healthcare Professionals seeking clinical information about issues in Pain Management and Pharmacology.

Speakers
Our presenting national faculty speakers make it their professional goals to enhance the training of primary care clinicians. This Continuing Medical Education program promises to help you learn the most current, best medicine, and techniques for making the diagnosis easier during a 20-minute office visit.

Topics and Objectives

Friday, May 6

Assessment of Low Back Pain
Objectives: 1) Discuss how multiple structures in the lumbar spine may serve as pain generators, including the disc, facet joint, myofascial, and ligamentous structures 2) Review, demonstrate, and practice basic physical exam techniques used for assessing spine-related pain conditions 3) Differentiate lumbar radiculopathy signs and symptoms from other causes of low back pain, including facet-mediated, soft tissue, and sacroiliac joint pain

Management of Fibromyalgia
Objectives: 1) Become familiar with recent pathophysiology related to mechanisms of fibromyalgia 2) Understand recent clinical criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia in a primary care setting 3) Identify a multidisciplinary approach that can be applied to patients with chronic widespread pain

Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes
Objectives: 1) Review the basic pharmacology of diabetic treatments, including mechanism of action, precautions and contraindications, and side-effect profile 2) Review newer diabetes medications and its place in therapy 3) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each pharmacologic therapy 4) Evaluate a patient’s blood glucose control and determine the need for insulin therapy

Getting Your Patient’s A1C to Goal
Objectives: 1) Discuss differences in diabetes management for older adults 2) Discuss the approach in selecting the most optimal diabetes treatment based on patient specific parameters 3) Apply clinical practice guidelines for diabetes management

Saturday, May 7

Meeting Goals Beyond A1C
Objectives: 1) Discuss differences in diabetes management for special populations 2) Discuss novel approaches in treatment options 3) Improve adherence to medications and monitoring

Treatment Options for Depression
Objectives: 1) Review the basic pharmacology of antidepressants, including mechanism of action, precautions and contraindications, and side-effect profile 2) Review newer antidepressants and its place in therapy 3) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each pharmacologic therapy

Pain Management in the Elderly
Objectives: 1) Evaluate pain intensity and measure treatment outcomes in your elderly patients 2) Describe treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis 3) Evaluate the impact of vertebral compression fractures on patient mobility 4) Review non-pharmacologic management strategies with demonstrated efficacy in elderly populations

Rational Polypharmacy for Chronic Pain Management
Objectives: 1) Apply new pathophysiologic understanding to treating pain 2) Understand mechanisms of action for the various muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants commonly used to treat various chronic pain states 3) Use case examples to better understand titration and adjustment of adjuvant analgesics

Sunday, May 8

Overview of Opioid Pharmacology, Assessment, and Management
Objectives: 1) Highlight pharmacologic differences between various opioids used for chronic pain management 2) Describe risk factors that may help to predict problematic opioid use, including addiction and misuse 3) Review validated screening tools used to help identify possible aberrant behaviors related to long-term opioid use 4) Understand and utilize Patient Provider Agreements (PPAs) and Prescription Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), as a means of improved monitoring patient use of opioid products

Approaching Difficult Conversations about Chronic Pain
Objectives: 1) Address the patient who is resistant to change 2) Describe a strategy for treating patients with anxiety around pain therapy 3) Characterize patients with clear addiction 4) Manage patients who are angry or upset in the office 5) Discuss the approach to patients who have lost self-control

Selecting the Most Optimal Treatment Regimen for Your Patients with Depression
Objectives: 1) Outline the various treatment approaches in managing major depression 2) Discuss the approach in selecting the most optimal antidepressant based on patient specific parameters 3) Discuss differences in depression management for older adults 4) Apply clinical practice guidelines for depression management

Treatment Options for Anxiety
Objectives: 1) Review the basic pharmacology of anxiolytics, including mechanism of action, precautions and contraindications, and side-effect profile 2) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each pharmacologic therapy