Southern Medical Journal CME topic: diagnostic tests for rheumatic disease.

Need

The diagnosis of systemic rheumatic disease requires integration of the patient's symptoms, physical examination findings and the results of diagnostic testing. Because patients often present with no specific findings relating to a single diagnosis, there is a temptation to rely heavily on laboratory testing for the diagnosis of rheumatic disease. Reliance on rheumatological laboratories alone for diagnosis may be imprudent, however, as testing is usually analyzed among patients with established disease, and not on patients with non-diagnostic symptoms, as is commonly seen in practice.

Target Audience

The following CME feature was designed for physicians in all specialties, particularly those in primary care.

Purpose and Objectives

Following completion of this activity, participants should be better prepared to evaulate and diagnose patients with rheumatic disease, and should be more informed regarding various testing options for this difficult disease.

Disclosure

Southern Medical Association's policy on disclosure requires authors to disclose to the audience: (1) any commercial relationships that may create or may be perceived as creating a potential conflict of interest with the material being presented or discussed; (2) any relationships with products or devices presented or discussed; and (3) whether the presentation includes a discussion of a commercial product with an unlabeled use or an investigational use not yet approved. Disclosures will be noted at the beginning of each article. This disclosure does not reflect on the quality of the activity, but allows participants to make informed judgments regarding content.

Accreditation/Credit Designation

The Southern Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. This CME activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Essentials for Enduring Materials. The Southern Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

Method of Participation

Participants read the entire CME feature and review illustrations, charts, bibliographies or other supplemental materials associated with the feature. A self-assessment test follows at the end of this feature that allows participants to test themselves on the knowledge obtained from the activity. Participants document their completion of this activity by submitting the CME credit form located at the end of the feature. Participants are also asked to evaluate the activity, to note specific outcomes to their practice as a result of their participation, and list other topics to be addressed in future CME features on the CME credit form.

CME Credit Instructions

Participants may request CME credit for completion of this activity by completing and submitting the CME Credit Form by mail, or electronically via SMA's website at www.sma.org. A nominal fee is required to receive credit for this activity. A CME certificate will be mailed within two weeks of receipt of the CME credit form at the SMA headquarters office.

Date of Original Release: July 1, 2005

Term of Approval: 1 Year * Credit Expires: July 1, 2006

Estimated Time for Completion: 1 Hour

Credit Designation: 1 AMA PRA category 1 credit