Autoimmune Diseases
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals with the information necessary to diagnose and treat the most common autoimmune diseases according to evidence-based or guideline-endorsed recommendations in order to improve patient quality of life.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Describe the impact and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in the United States.
- Recognize genetic and environmental risk factors for autoimmune diseases.
- Evaluate the general characteristics of autoimmune diseases, including the difficulty in reaching a diagnosis.
- Identify approaches to the management of autoimmune diseases, with special attention to considerations for patients with limited English proficiency and/or health literacy.
- Analyze the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic criteria of autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Select the appropriate treatment for Hashimoto disease and Graves disease in various patient populations.
- Appropriately identify and diagnose rheumatoid arthritis according to established diagnostic criteria and clinical manifestations.
- Outline the recommended treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.
- Discuss the importance of follow-up and patient education in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Evaluate the impact and diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (systemic lupus), including indications for appropriate referral.
- Analyze the available treatments for systemic lupus, including considerations for follow-up and prognosis.
- Apply the available diagnostic criteria to identify and treat Sjögren syndrome.
- Evaluate the clinical manifestations of celiac disease.
- Describe the components necessary to diagnose and treat celiac disease.
About the Author/Presenters
Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC, is President of Editorial Rx, Inc., which provides medical writing and editing services on a wide variety of clinical topics and in a range of media. A medical writer and editor for more than 30 years, Ms. Alexander has written for both professional and lay audiences, with a focus on continuing education materials, medical meeting coverage, and educational resources for patients. She is the Editor Emeritus of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Journal, the peer-review journal representing the largest association of medical communicators in the United States. Ms. Alexander earned a Master’s degree in technical and professional writing, with a concentration in medical writing, at Northeastern University, Boston. She has also earned certification as a life sciences editor and as a medical writer.
John M. Leonard, MD, is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed his post-graduate clinical training at the Yale and Vanderbilt University Medical Centers before joining the Vanderbilt faculty in 1974. He is a clinician-educator and for many years served as director of residency training and student educational programs for the Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine. Over a career span of 40 years, Dr. Leonard conducted an active practice of general internal medicine and an inpatient consulting practice of infectious diseases.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing, Physician
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
