2010 Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists
August 14 - 15 • Rosemont, Illinois
contact: , 404-633-3777
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This activity is intended for rheumatologists with a beginner’s to low intermediate level of ultrasound experience.  To provide the optimal learning environment, attendance is limited to 100 participants.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has been an imaging modality of continuously growing importance over the last 15 years. Of all imaging modalities in rheumatology, ultrasound receives the greatest attention by rheumatologist researchers. More papers on musculoskeletal ultrasound are being published by rheumatologist than by any other specialty. Trained rheumatologists can agree more readily on ultrasound findings than musculoskeletal radiologists can on MRI findings, based on available literature. This suggests that operator dependency is less of a concern for rheumatologists, if they are adequately trained. However, such training opportunities continue to be scarce in the United States. This course is designed to help address the need for additional education.

Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:

• demonstrate the proper probe position and ultrasound machine settings to reliably obtain images of shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot
• identify and decribe normal sonographic anatomy for each joint area applying standardized protocols
• explain how fundamental sonographic pathology of rheumatic diseases is distinguished from normal findings
• assess standardized sonographic scanning protocols for each anatomical region, according to published guidelines
• apply appropriate indications for the use of ultrasound in rheumatology
• explain the requirements for billing, report generation and record keeping as they relate to musculoskeletal ultrasound
• demonstrate evidence-base and technique for ultrasound-guided procedures
• cite the possibilities and limitations of implementation of musculoskeletal ultrasound into clinical practice and patient care
• cite the possibilities and limitations of musculoskeletal ultrasound as a research tool

• Assessment of normal sonographic anatomy and basic pathological sonographic findings in each anatomical region (shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot)
• Assessment of rheumatoid arthritis by ultrasound: Erosions, synovitis, tenosynovitis
• Assessment of spondyloarthropathy by ultrasound: Enthesitis
• Assessment of crystal arthritis by ultrasound: Urate tophi and CPPD
• Assessment of treatment response by ultrasound: Change of hyperemia and thickness of synovial tissue
• Assessment of regional rheumatic pain syndromes by ultrasound: Bursitis, rotator cuff lesions, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis
• Ultrasound guidance of aspirations, injections and biopsies

Physicians

The American College of Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Rheumatology designates the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Health Professionals

As a division of the College, the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals offers a Certificate of Participation. The Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals designates the above course for a maximum of 15 hours of participation.

ACR Disclosure Policy

It is the policy of the American College of Rheumatology to ensure that its CME activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure content objectivity and balance, and guarantee that the content presented is in the best interest of its learners’ and the public, the ACR requires that everyone in a position to control the content must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest if the relationship is financial and occurred within the past 12 months. If there are relationships that create a conflict of interest, these must be resolved by the Planning Committee chair in consultation with the ACR’s Committee on Education designee(s) prior to the participation of the individual in the development or presentation of CME content.

Any individual who refuses to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from being a planning committee member, a presenter, or an author of a CME activity, and cannot have control of, or responsibility for, the development, management, presentation or evaluation of the CME activity.

Disclosures related to the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists will be published in November 2009.

The Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Course for Rheumatologists is not a public event. Programs presented at the course are for the education of attendees and purchasers of recorded presentations as authorized by the ACR. The information and materials displayed and presented during this symposium are the property of the American College of Rheumatology and the presenter and cannot be photographed, copied, photocopied, transformed to electronic format, reproduced, or distributed without written permission of the American College of Rheumatology and the presenter. Any use of the program content for commercial purposes, which includes, but is not limited to oral presentations, audiovisual materials used by speakers, and program handouts without the written consent of the ACR is prohibited.

This policy applies before, during and after the course. The ACR will enforce its intellectual property rights and penalize those who infringe upon it. The names, insignias, logos and acronyms of the ACR, the ARHP and the REF are proprietary marks. Use of the names in any fashion, by any entity, for any purpose, is prohibited without the express written permission of the American College of Rheumatology.