Giant Cell Arteritis as a Rheumatologic Emergency: Fast-track Diagnosis and Management

Giant Cell Arteritis as a Rheumatologic Emergency: Fast-track Diagnosis and Management is organized by Paradigm Medical Communications, LLC and will be held from Nov 15, 2018 - Nov 15, 2019. This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to address the educational needs of clinicians involved in the management of patients with GCA, including those consulted on diagnosis and management, and those who refer patients for consultation.

Statement of Need:
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a rare disease with presenting symptoms that are common to other diseases— headache and vision disturbances. The potential for rapid irreversible vision loss make GCA one of the few rheumatologic emergencies. Clinicians need to be aware of the symptoms of GCA, so they are prepared to consider GCA to make a rapid diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. Rheumatologists appear knowledgeable about GCA diagnosis; however, they are challenged evaluating for large-vessel involvement, remembering the key physical exam components, and the use of diagnostic imaging. Other clinicians, who do not routinely manage GCA, are less knowledgeable about both diagnosis and management of GCA.

This educational activity includes case-based and expert-led review of the data supporting a reduction in diagnostic delay, best practices evaluating large-vessel disease, and education on new and emerging agents to prevent relapse in order to promote effective, efficient, and safe care for patients with GCA; it also includes a Fast Track evaluation tool to establish office processes to help clinical staff identify patients in need of rapid evaluation for GCA, as well as a clinical diagnostic and monitoring Clinical Checklist that can be added to the electronic medical records to help guide evaluation of patients with GCA.
 
Learning Objectives:
Upon proper completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
• Clinicians with patients with suspected GCA in need of referral should be better able to recognize early signs and symptoms of giant cell arteritis, which indicate the need for urgent referral to another specialist.
• Clinicians consulted on the diagnosis and management of GCA should be better able to prioritize referrals to address the emergent nature of giant cell arteritis.
• Clinicians consulted on the diagnosis and management of GCA should be better able to evaluate the utility of available diagnostic and imaging modalities for large-vessel involvement in giant cell arteritis.
• All clinicians should be better able to compare evidence for new and emerging therapies to manage giant cell arteritis and reduce the risk of relapse.

Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.