Release date: July 2009
Expiration date: July 31, 2010

Estimated time to complete activity: 1.75 hours

Sponsored by Curatio CME Institute

This activity is supported by an educational donation from Amgen and Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Centocor Ortho Biotech

Activity Overview
A major focus in the management of rheumatoid arthritis is on early diagnosis and intervention. It is clear that early aggressive therapy results in better outcomes for patients with progressive rheumatoid arthritis. Identification of patients who are most likely to have advancing disease is important because rapid and intensive intervention offers the potential to change the course of disease. This activity includes case-based scenarios to illustrate management strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of rheumatologists, rheumatology nurses, physician assistants, primary care physicians, and other health care professionals who treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

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

• Identify patients who have early progressive rheumatoid arthritis
• Apply objective measurements of disease state to monitor patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• Compare the utility of clinical indicators, radiographic measurements, and biomarkers in the assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• Formulate strategies for managing patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Faculty
Paul Emery, MD—Co-Chair
Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) Professor of Rheumatology
Head, Academic Section of Musculoskeletal Disease
Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine
University of Leeds
Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Roy M. Fleischmann, MD—Co-Chair
Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Arthur Kavanaugh, MD
Professor of Medicine
University of California School of Medicine, San Diego
Center for Innovative Therapy
Director, Center for Innovative Therapy
USCD Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology
San Diego, California

Gregg J. Silverman, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Rheumatic Diseases Core Center
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
La Jolla, California

Accreditation Statement
Curatio CME Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Curatio CME Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in this CME activity. To receive credit during the period July 2009 to July 31, 2010, participants must (1) read the learning objectives and disclosure statements, (2) complete all sections of the educational activity, (3) log onto http://www.curatiocme.com/posttest/otopra, and (4) complete the posttest and the activity evaluation form. Participants who successfully complete the activity can download a CME certificate from this site.

Medium
This activity is offered as a CD-ROM and posted to the Internet on RAoutlook.org. Offering this CME activity as a CD-ROM and Web posting allows participants to learn on their own time and at their own pace. The interactive nature of the activity engages participants and offers visual, written, and spoken education to suit many learning styles.

Disclosure
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity participants the relevant financial relationships of everyone in a position to control content of an educational activity. A relevant financial relationship is a relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control. Relationship information appears below:

Paul Emery, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Roy M. Fleischmann, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Gregg J. Silverman, MD has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Curatio CME Institute
Shari J. Dermer, PhD, Medical Director, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Jonathan S. Simmons, ELS, Managing Editor, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Derek Warnick, CME Director, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Disclaimer
The information presented in this activity is for continuing medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician regarding diagnosis and treatment of a specific patient’s medical condition.

Unapproved Product Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Curatio CME Institute, Amgen and Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Centocor Ortho Biotech do not recommend the use of any agent outside the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of Curatio CME Institute, Amgen and Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Centocor Ortho Biotech . Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Hardware/Software Requirements

• Version 5.0 or higher for Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape 6 or higher
• If you are using a Mac computer system and are experiencing problems with your browser, we suggest downloading the latest version of Firefox for Mac
• Adobe Flash Player plugin v.8.0+

Contact Information
RAoutlook.org
100 Campbell Boulevard
Suite 103
Exton, PA 19341
raoutlook@curatiocme.com

Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality
Curatio CME Institute makes every effort to protect the privacy of RAoutlook.org users; user information is used only to maintain records as required by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the ACCME.

Curatio CME Institute does not require individuals to register to use RAoutlook.org; registration is only required for physicians, health care professionals, and other users to participate in and receive CME/CE credit for accredited educational programs hosted on RAoutlook.org.

Curatio CME Institute is required by the AMA and the ACCME (and occasionally by other accrediting organizations) to collect user information that will allow Curatio CME Institute to issue a CME/CE certificate. Curatio CME Institute is required to keep this information on file for up to 6 years. The information is stored in a secure database and used only to verify individual participation in a CME/CE activity and to reissue a certificate if a user’s original certificate is lost or misplaced.

Information gathered through RAoutlook.org will not be released to any other company or organization for any purpose; this information remains confidential. At the end of the mandatory 6-year period, these records will be permanently destroyed.

Curatio CME Institute uses Web site tracking software to determine how RAoutlook.org is used. This information helps Curatio CME Institute determine the best strategies for improving RAoutlook.org and better meeting the needs of its users. This software does not identify individual users.

RAoutlook.org does not employ cookies or any other software that violates a user's privacy.

If you have any questions about RAoutlook.org or any policies of Curatio CME Institute, you may contact us at raoutlook@curatiocme.com.

Thank you for using RAoutlook.org.