The 2010 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium offers attendees a chance to review the latest clinical and scientific information on topics such as the treatment and research of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, pediatrics, ultrasound, and cardiovascular comorbidities. The symposium—which provides a platform for attendees to have personal interactions with key opinion leaders in the field of rheumatology—will be held April 24–25 in Chicago, and will cover a range of diverse topics.
According to John J. Cush, MD—of Baylor University Medical Center Dallas—a longtime ACR member and chair of the symposium planning committee, “the ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium is a unique meeting that highlights advances in clinical care and delivers practical and useful information and hands-on teaching for practicing rheumatologists, trainees, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. I’ve always liked the meeting for its size, attendees, location, and timing. In this regard, it is unlike the annual ACR meeting while still drawing from the strengths of the annual meeting [through its] faculty and teaching formats.” Meeting attendees can:
- Attend expert-led lunchtime workshops that feature lectures ranging from “Practical Office Assessment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity and Outcomes” to “Injection Techniques with Phantom Models.”
- Hear colleagues discuss difficult cases during Curbside Consults–Ask the Professor sessions.
- Review selected sessions from the 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be available for viewing in the Encore Theatre.
- Visit tabletop industry exhibitors.
“The State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium is convenient to attend because of the central location in Chicago,” says Miriam Richter Cohen, MD, of the Rheumatic Disease Center in Milwaukee. “It is also easy to get into a session and to talk with an invited speaker. As a clinical rheumatologist, I look forward to these meetings for the update and review, as I certainly do incorporate what I learn at these meetings.”
Preconference Workshops Add Value
Attendees can also maximize their learning experiences by registering for one of two preconference workshops scheduled for Friday, April 23. The “Advanced Practice Skills: Joint Exams and Injections” course can help practices address the documented shortage of trained physicians and health professionals specializing in rheumatology. This hands-on experience covers Disease Activity Score joint count for 28 joints, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire full joint count, directed musculoskeletal assessment, and examination of the lower and upper extremities for both pediatric and adult patients.
“I liked the lectures prior to the hands-on skills session,” says past participant Manuel Chavez, RN, FNP, of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. “Also, I enjoyed the actual hands-on sessions; the patient volunteers were an added plus. I learned quite a bit, but more beneficial to me were the joint-injection sessions. This is something that I brought back with me and am anxious to put into practice.”
The “Musculoskeletal Ultrasound” workshop will explore, through hands-on use, this real-time imaging tool used to guide minimally invasive procedures such as intra-articular and soft tissue injections. Expert faculty members will demonstrate the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound as a diagnostic modality in patient management. At last year’s symposium, 94% of the ultrasound workshop participants indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with this popular preconference course.
The State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium offers a wealth of diverse information for rheumatologists and other health professionals treating patients with rheumatic diseases and conditions.
