Bonus!
In-person registration includes FREE virtual access during the conference; watch sessions from your hotel room, poolside, or wherever there’s a WiFi connection. Just bring your personal device!
Daily Schedule anchor
Daily Schedule For Las Vegas, Nevada CME Conference
Whether you practice full-time and strive to sharpen your skills, or you work occasionally and need to improve your knowledge base, there’s something for everyone here! Perhaps you just want to stay current and pass your recertification exams. Plus, this exciting program allows participants to come early and/or stay over the weekend for a vacation. Discounted hotel rates apply! Schedule is preliminary.
Topics, times and presenters subject to change.
Product Theater (Non-CME) denoted by *
*Number of hours depends on your course selection. Rx denotes Pharmacology hours. Daily CME credits listed are the maximum number of credits available for that specific day.
Monday, November 11 – Early Registration 2:00 – 5:00 pm
- November 12
Day 1 – Tuesday
Dermatology - November 14
Day 2 – Wednesday (Room A)
Orthopedics - November 13
Day 2 – Wednesday (Room B)
Diabetes - November 13
Day 3 – Thursday (Room A)
Cardiology & Emergency Medicine - November 14
Day 3 – Thursday (Room B)
Pain Management / Pharmacology Update - November 15
Day 4 – Friday
Women’s Health
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Red and Bumpy and Dry Oh My!
What’s on their face? What to do when it’s not just acne. This session will cover the diagnosis and treatment of frequently seen facial conditions, including acne, rosacea, cysts, and facial dermatosis. In addition, pityriasis alba, perioral, lid, lip, and seborrheic dermatitis will also be reviewed.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
It’s Not Just a Base Tan
What are the long-term consequences of baby oil, tanning beds, and a lack of SPF? You guessed it…skin cancer! It’s the most common cancer in the US, and statistics show that 1 in 5 will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. This session will look at the most common skin cancers, and a few must not miss diagnoses. We’ll review actinic keratosis, BCC/SCC, Melanoma, Extramammary Paget disease, and CTCL.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
But, Is It Contagious?
Contagious or not?! Does your patient need to avoid friends, family, or sexual partners? This session will look at common skin conditions patients present with and frequently wonder if they are contagious. Pityriasis Rosea, Condyloma, Zoster, Herpes, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and plant dermatitis will be reviewed.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
I’ll Take Spots for 400
This session will look at common and not-so-common skin spots to help aid you in their diagnosis, treatment and refer to dermatology as warranted. This lecture will focus on identifying and treating benign lesions, including hemangiomas, SKs, LPLKs, Molluscum, Warts, Nevi, acrochordons, café o lait, and blue nevi.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Let’s Make a Rash Decision
It’s Friday at five, and your patient is red and itchy. What do you do? When, what, and where do you put that steroid? This session will look at the diagnosis and treatment of several common rashes and skin conditions to help relieve your patient and get you to happy hour on time. This session will include irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, tinea infection, scabies, drug eruptions, and life-threatening rashes. We will also review the basics of steroid use, including what, when, and where to use it.
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Feeling Alright: Pain Management of Orthopedic Patients’ Part 1
This is the first of a 2-part lecture focusing on the evaluation of patients suffering from pain related to orthopedic conditions. We will review basic and focused exams as well as what imaging and labs to order and when it is appropriate; highlight common associated diagnoses, discuss a variety of appropriate treatment options ranging from manual therapy to pharmaceutical and interventional therapy and review some cases of what you might see in a clinical setting. The goal of both parts 1 and 2 will be to obtain some level of provider comfort in specialty and non-specialty settings when dealing with patients suffering from orthopedic pain.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Feeling Alright: Pain Management of Orthopedic Patients’ Part 2
This lecture will build on part one of this two-part lecture. We will focus more on pharmacological treatments and highlight the importance of the PDMP, knowledge of morphine equivalency, and safer non-opioid treatment options for patients suffering from both post-operative and chronic pain. We will also discuss the hot topics of buprenorphine, tramadol, and serotonin syndrome and how these can all apply to treating patients with orthopedic pain.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Practice Makes Better: Case Studies in Orthopedics
They say practice makes perfect, but, in this case, we are just working on getting better at clinical evaluation and decision-making for patients with orthopedic problems. Therefore, we will review a selection of cases to help increase the comfort level of orthopedic presentations that are both common and rare. The cases will range from entry-level to difficult and hopefully get your thoughts flowing and your problem-solving going. Ultimately this should help providers evaluate and break down a case to help patients obtain better clinical outcomes.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
“Back” to Basics: Managing Back Pain in the Orthopedic Patient
While back pain can sometimes be a nerve-racking chief complaint, we see on the chart; it does not have to be. This lecture will discuss risk factors, causes, examination, and identification of common orthopedic back presentations ranging from mild to emergent. We will also discuss appropriate diagnostic testing and labs as well as a variety of appropriate treatment options. The goal of this lecture is to help give providers a better comfort level so that they can bring more comfort to patients presenting with low back pain.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
On the Road Again: Recognition and Management of Common Orthopedic Injuries of the Foot and Ankle
They may not always be the most glorious part of our body, but without them, it would be tough to get around. This lecture will cover common orthopedic injuries of the foot and ankle. We will review the sometimes difficult and confusing foot and ankle anatomy, discuss a variety of injuries that often present to primary or urgent care, and formulate an understanding of basic treatment plans that will hopefully get our patients back “on the road again.”
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
It’s More Than Numbers on a Glucometer: Current Priorities of Diabetes Management
In this session, we will address the new paradigm in approaching diabetes, in terms of diagnosis, setting appropriate glycemic targets, and intervention priorities: It’s a shift from a glucose-centric approach to a more personalized, morbidity (CVD) mitigation-centric approach. The talk will also provide tips on diabetes assessment & diagnoses, identification of various types of diabetes (e.g. LADA), overview of DM-related micro- & macrovascular complications, preserving beta-cell function, exploration of adiposity & insulin resistance, and how to evaluate blood glucose readings.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Making a Good Start: Addressing Pre-Diabetes Meaningfully
This session will focus on the most common presentation of diabetes in primary care —“Pre-diabetes.” Diagnostic biomarkers for this disease will be addressed along with how to work- up, treat, and follow up with these patients. Meaningful ways to delay the progression of this disease and prevent beta-cell failure will be discussed.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Practical Approaches to Using Current, Non-insulin Pharmacotherapy for T2dm
In this session, we will compare and contrast available, non-insulin, diabetes medications, prioritize their use based on underlying cardiovascular status/risk, glycemic status, contraindications, cost etc. Case studies will be used to illustrate appropriate initiation and progression of pharmacotherapy.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Moving Past Your Comfort Zone: Insulin, DM Technology and More
This session will introduce the use of basal & bolus insulin in the patient with T2DM & T1DM & contrast the pharmacokinetics among the available insulins. Case studies will be used to determine how to initiate and titrate insulin. How to best analyze glycemic data from finger sticks and CGM will be addressed as well as a brief discussion of various modes of insulin delivery systems.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Managing Metabolic Madness: Diabetes, Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Disease
During this session, we will explore the synergy between members of the terrible triad contributing to metabolic mayhem: (T2 diabetes, dysfunctional fat mass and cardiometabolic disease) and address relevant pathophysiology, assessment, and intervention priorities. Weight loss strategies will be explored with regard to how they improve glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
“Take On Me”: A Cardiology Primer
This session will provide an overview of cardiology basics to refresh and bring to mind important concepts to help distinguish between “normal” and “abnormal” and understand basic anatomy and physiology concepts in cardiology.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
“Beat It”: Understanding Arrhythmias
This session will review the appearance of common arrhythmias and concerning arrhythmias, identify key aspects to look for to distinguish between arrhythmias, and discuss intervention strategies to consider.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
“Under Pressure”: How to Manage Hypertension
This session will define the stages of hypertension, review guideline-directed medical therapy recommendations for hypertension, and discuss monitoring recommendations such as labs to be obtained as medications are titrated.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”: Cardiac Murmurs Demystified
This session will guide the attendee through identifying murmurs through auscultation, determining murmur severity, and determining when interventions should be considered.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
“Billie Jean Is Not My Cardiologist”: How to Manage the Heart Failure Patient
This session will delve into the different types of cardiomyopathies, different stages of heart failure, interventions to consider, and management strategies for the heart failure patient.
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Chronic Pain Conditions – A Deeper Dive Into the Usual Suspects
Millions of American experience chronic pain, and over 4% of the population reports having high-impact chronic pain. Chronic pain is a common complaint and has considerable comorbidities, sequelae, and costs. This session will review some of the more common chronic pain conditions, including a review of symptoms, signs, and supportive diagnostic information. Some conditions to be covered include chronic low back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and neuropathies. Attendees will enhance their confidence in diagnosis, which, with a patient-specific treatment plan, will improve treatment outcomes.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Pain Pathophysiology Part 1 – Bridging the Mechanism of Action of Non-opioid Medications
Without a single therapeutic option achieving complete efficacy and safety for those experiencing chronic pain, clinicians are presented with a significant diversity of pharmacologic options to consider. Treatment guidelines have consistently put forward strong recommendations to leverage the analgesic properties of non-opioid medications, but how does one decide between a calcium channel modulator, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory? Attendees of this session will explore the basic neuroanatomy and physiology of nociception, focusing on the mechanism of action of non-opioid medications. By connecting the pharmacologic site of action to a patient’s underlying pain condition, a more rational approach will occur in selecting non-opioid medications.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Pain Pathophysiology Part 2 – Bridging the Mechanism of Action of Opioid Medications
In response to the public health crisis of opioid abuse and overdose, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) recommendation for all opioids. The REMS is part of a larger federal effort to reduce risks associated with prescribing long-term opioid therapy. This national response has recognized that improved knowledge of opioid safety is an essential clinical practice competency for all prescribers of opioids.
This lecture will discuss pain from a contextual perspective, patient selection, and assessment of risk associated with opioid use for long-term management of chronic pain. The CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain and the use of opioids for short-term acute pain will also be discussed. A brief discussion on the consideration for and initiation of medication-assisted therapy (MAT). Prescribing opioids safely ultimately depends on the trust between the prescriber and patient. Training can improve trust by improving communication and collaborative skills.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Aberrant Behaviors and Patient Monitoring
Despite advances in non-pharmacologic treatments and non-opioid medications for patients with chronic pain, many patients have inadequately managed pain and may be appropriate candidates for opioid therapy. For these patients, careful monitoring is essential and clinical guidelines support using tools such as urine drug monitoring and prescription drug monitoring program data. Like every medical test, these tools have specificities and sensitivities that may yield results that are either consistent or inconsistent with the clinical impressions. This session will examine the various laboratory technologies of drug monitoring, including screening and definitive testing. Connections will be drawn between the laboratory results and unexpected and expected findings from individual opioids, including the impact of pharmacogenetics, drug interactions, and manufacturing impurities. Other monitoring tools, including prescription drug monitoring programs, will be discussed. Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to apply the content to a review of actual case studies of patient aberrant behaviors. Some circumstances are what they seem, and some are not.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Innovations in Interventional Pain Management
Although pharmacologic treatments remain a common component of managing pain, significant advances in interventional pain management have reached a point where patients may successfully reduce medications or may not require them at all. This session will review some of the longstanding approaches, such as epidural steroids and radiofrequency neurotomies, but also increase awareness of understanding of interventional treatment options for joint pain of the knee, hip, and shoulder as well as advances in minimally invasive pain, reliving surgical treatments within the scope of pain management. Attendees will also be introduced to the innovative advances in neuromodulation and targeted intrathecal drug delivery.
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Treasure the Bones: Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention Strategies in Men and Women: Part 1
This session will introduce a comprehensive approach to the identification of women and men at risk for fracture based on bone densitometry and their 10-year fracture risk using the FRAX calculation. There will be a discussion on who should be screened and then interpretation of results of the bone density and FRAX calculation. There will be discussion of the approach to patients based on whether they are at high or very high risk for fracture. In session part 1, there will be a discussion of the initial workup of patients, non-pharmacologic therapy, and initial therapy of the osteoporotic patient at high risk for fracture with pharmacologic therapy. Treatment of patients at high risk due to therapy such as aromatase inhibitors and androgen deprivation therapy will be discussed. Case studies will be presented for managing osteoporotic patients at high risk for fracture.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Treasure the Bones: Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention Strategies in Men and Women: Part 2
This session will review the approach to patients who are at very high risk for fracture based on their bone density or FRAX calculation. This will include discussion of sequencing of pharmacologic therapy with bone building anabolic agents followed by maintenance with anti-resorptive agents. Current controversies will be discussed including long-term use of bisphosphonates, adverse events including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical subtrocanteric femur fractures and drug holidays. Concerns about discontinuation of rank ligand inhibitors and the risk for a rapid increase in vertebral fractures will be discussed. Case studies will be presented for managing osteoporotic patients at very high risk for fracture.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Menopause Magic: Learn Tricks for the Management of Women at Midlife and Beyond
This session will provide the attendee with an overview of the menopause transition into the post-menopause with an emphasis on symptom management. There will be an update on guidelines for hormone therapy including issues of long-term use and use after the age of 65. The concept of a window of opportunity for treating women early in the post menopause with less cardiovascular risk than older women will be discussed There will be discussion of FDA approved hormonal and non-hormonal therapy and dietary supplement options for the treatment of hot flashes. There will be a discussion of the identification and treatment of the genito-urinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Case studies will be utilized to provide clinical management decision-making.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Capture Current Cervical Cancer Prevention Guidelines: New Screening and Risk-Based Management
Cervical cancer prevention has changed significantly in recent years with less frequent screening and the addition of HPV testing as a stand-alone test along with the option for the Pap and HPV test together as cotesting. This session will review the appropriate use of Pap testing, the rationale for HPV testing along with the Pap (co-testing) in women 30 and older and the use of HPV testing as a primary screen (stand-alone test) in women 25 and older by two of the FDA approved HPV tests. There will be a discussion of the new American Cancer Society Guidelines for screening and a review of the new 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines for management of abnormal screening and subsequent follow-up with case studies. These guidelines are a shift from results-based to risk-based management relative to the risk of an existing CIN 3 (pre-cancer).
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Alphabet Soup: AUB and PALM COEIN for Systematic Diagnosis and Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) presents due to both structural and non-structural reasons and AUB is a symptom and not a diagnosis. This session will review a systematic approach to the identification and classification of AUB, leading to a diagnosis using the Palm-Coein classification system. This system allows the clinician to assess structural diagnoses including polyps, adenomyosis, leiomyoma, and malignancy. Non-structural diagnoses include coagulopathy, ovulatory dysfunction, endometrial, iatrogenic, and not yet classified. There will be a review of the appropriate workup and the subsequent options for management of AUB, including both medical and surgical interventions. This will include symptom management and use of newer GnRh antagonists for heavy menstrual bleeding due to fibroids. These agents expand the options for management by the NP and PA in practice before referral to gynecology for possible surgical options including myomectomy, endometrial ablation, and hysterectomy.
Don’t Miss Out On Our Early Deal Specials!
The earlier you register, the more you save!
In-Person Conference
Super Saver
On/Before June 12
$987
Early Bird
On/Before July 12
$1,087
Advance
On/Before October 12
$1,137
Standard
After October 12
$1,157
Bonus!
In-person conferences include FREE virtual access!
Includes a FREE On-demand course by topic! Up to 13 CME hours – a $297 value!
Receive a $100 rebate check when you book 3 nights at our host hotel using our group code!
Virtual Conference Only
Super Saver
On/Before June 12
$827
Advance
On/Before October 12
$877
Standard
After October 12