Participating Faculty

Treat to Target: Rheumatoid Arthritis Management in a Value-Based Healthcare System

This supplement to The American Journal of Managed Care discusses the significance of undifferentiated arthritis (UA), predictive factors associated with progression of UA to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the clinical and economic implications of treating UA, and the importance of early, aggressive treatment of RA. It also reviews the roles of primary care physicians and managed care organizations in achieving the best outcomes in RA.

Faculty

Marco P. Cicero, PhD

Senior Director, Scientific Affairs

Vemco MedEd, LLC

Bridgewater, New Jersey

James T. Kenney, Jr., RPh, MBA

Pharmacy Operations Manager

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Katherine Margo, MD

Associate Professor

Director of Student Programs

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Beth H. Resman-Targoff, PharmD, FCCP

Clinical Professor, Department of Pharmacy:

Clinical and Administrative Sciences

University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Michael H. Schiff, MD

Clinical Professor of Medicine, Rheumatology Division

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Greenwood Village, Colorado

Faculty Disclosures

These faculty have disclosed the following relevant commercial financial relationships or affiliations in the past 12 months.

Marco P. Cicero, PhD

, has nothing relevant to disclose.

James T. Kenney, Jr., RPh, MBA

, has nothing relevant to disclose.

Katherine Margo, MD

, has nothing relevant to disclose.

Beth H. Resman-Targoff, PharmD, FCCP

, has nothing relevant to disclose.

Michael H. Schiff, MD

Advisory board/consultant/grants:

Abbott, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Horizon, Pfizer, and Roche

Promotional speaker's bureau:

Abbott

The planning staff from the Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Vemco MedEd, and The American Journal of Managed Care have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Treat to Target: Rheumatoid Arthritis Management in a Value-Based Healthcare System

Release date: November 15, 2010

Expiration date: November 30, 2011

Estimated time to complete activity: 1.5 hours

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech and Biogen Idec.

Intended Audience

This educational activity is designed for healthcare professionals, including managed care professionals, rheumatologists, and others involved in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Statement of Educational Need

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic, progressive disease, continues to be associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and debilitating comorbid conditions despite the paradigm changes in diagnosis and treatment that now make disease remission possible. This is due to a failure to realize the true potential of:

• Early aggressive treatment
• Delaying/halting disease progression in patients with undifferentiated arthritis at risk of progressing to rheumatoid arthritis
• Individualizing therapy based on individual patient factors (like comorbidities) and treat-to-target goals

Success of individualized treatment based on patient-specific factors and target goals to maximize long-term, health-related quality of life is contingent on partnership among all stakeholders in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, including (1) rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for patient care, and (2) managed care professionals who continuously assess treatment success to make formulary and patient care-related decisions.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to:

• Evaluate halting disease progression in patients with undifferentiated arthritis at risk of progressing to rheumatoid arthritis.
• Assess the importance of early aggressive treatment.
• Recognize the value of individualizing therapy based on patient factors and treat-to-target goals.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Center for Independent Healthcare Education requires authors, planners, and others who are in a position to control the content of continuing education activities to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. All identified conflicts of interest are reviewed and resolved to ensure fair balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all activities. The authors are further required to disclose discussion of off-label uses.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through joint sponsorship of the Center for Independent Healthcare Education (Center) and Vemco MedEd. Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Center for Independent Healthcare Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1

Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Continuing Education

Accreditation Statement

Center for Independent Healthcare Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This program is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) under the ACPE universal program number of 0473-9999-10-005-H01-P.

Type of activity: Knowledge-based

The contents of this supplement may include information regarding the use of products that may be inconsistent with or outside the approved labeling for these products in the United States. Physicians should note that the use of these products outside current approved labeling is considered experimental and are advised to consult prescribing information for these products.

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