October 21-24, 2024
Orlando CME Conference at Walt Disney World®
Register Now!
Life is short; budgets are limited. Earn up to 39 CME credits while experiencing medical education and an out-of-this-world vacation at your 2024 Orlando CME Conference.
Can’t join us in October? Join us June 3-6!
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 Orlando, FL 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.
APRN Pharm Credit to be updated
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.
Sunday, October 20 – Early Registration 2:00 – 5:00 pm
- October 21
Day 1 – Monday
Dermatology - October 22
Day 2 – Tuesday (Room A)
Orthopedics - October 22
Day 2 – Tuesday (Room B)
Pain Management / Pharmacology Update - October 23
Day 3 – Wednesday (Room A)
Cardiology & Emergency Medicine - October 23
Day 3 – Wednesday (Room B)
Diabetes - October 24
Day 4 – Thursday
Women’s Health
Kara Roman, MMS, PA-C
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Dermspeak Jeopardy-Style: Review the Lingo of Lesions and Rashes
This fast-paced game show version of visual diagnosis will help set the stage for a day of reviewing dermatologic conditions. By reviewing lesion morphology and distribution patterns, participants will be able to sharpen their skills and gain confidence in making these important diagnoses. Case presentations will stimulate discussion along with hundreds of interesting dermatologic images to assist in disease recognition. Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your ability to quickly and confidently diagnose dermatologic disease and have some fun as you start your day.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Tackling Topical Therapies and Routine Skin Care (Rx=0.50)
“If it is wet, dry it; if it is dry, wet it; and if you don’t know what to do, put a steroid on it.” Dermatologic pharmacology is not so simple. Many topical medications are utilized in primary care to manage conditions ranging from xerosis to contact dermatitis to cutaneous infections. The proper preparation, amount, and duration of therapy should be considered to be used most effectively. This presentation will help the primary care provider make sense of the various commonly prescribed topical medications, including topical corticosteroids, anti-infective agents, emollients, and several new agents that have recently become available. Medication dosing and safety will be addressed, as well as pearls and practical pointers for the most effective use of these products. Learn the what, when, and how of dermatologic pharmacology. This session will conclude with practical tips for taking care of the skin, from cleansing to moisturizing and skin cancer prevention.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Bites, Stings, and Other Itchy Things (Rx=0.50)
Something stings you, you rub against a plant, you take a new medication, you use a new product…you get a rash, and it itches. When an allergen is responsible for triggering the immune system, an allergic skin condition is a result. Allergy-mediated skin manifestations can be superficial, like contact dermatitis or urticaria, or can lead to more systemic reactions, such as toxic epidermal necrolysis or anaphylaxis. Participants in this session will review the common skin findings in several allergic and pruritic conditions and the diagnostic testing and management strategies that will improve the skin’s look and potentially save lives.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch & Learn: Topic To Be Determined
12:30 – 2:00 PM
An Update on Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (Rx=0.50)
The skin is a great line of defense, but it is not always perfect at keeping out microbial invaders. When microbes invade, infection ensues. The epidemiology and clinical presentations of common skin infections, including tinea (capitis, corporis, pedis, cruris, unguium), HPV, molluscum, cellulitis, and abscesses, will be reviewed in this session. The differential diagnosis and methods for confirming diagnosis based on clinical presentation will be discussed and recommended treatment options for each type of infection will be specified.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Inside Out – Dermatologic Manifestations of Systemic Disease
There are many clues that rashes and lesions can give us to rheumatologic, renal, endocrine, and even malignant conditions. Our job is to recognize the signs that make us dig deeper for the diagnosis. Cases and images will ensure you feel confident that you will not miss these important internal medicine manifestations. This session will confirm the saying, “It’s more than skin deep.”
Zack Lerner, DNP, ARN
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Learn: “Status Neutral” in Primary Care: A Fresh Look at the PCP’s Role in HIV Prevention
This session will empower primary care clinicians to offer preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in a primary care setting. Participants will learn how to start conversations to assess a patient’s risk of acquiring HIV. In a framework of providing status-neutral care, the session will cover implementation of PrEP services, including how to select an oral or long-acting injectable regimen based on patient preferences and characteristics and the latest clinical evidence, and how to initiate, monitor, and provide follow-up care.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Feeling Alright: Pain Management of Orthopedic Patients’ Part 1 (Rx=0.25)
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.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Feeling Alright: Pain Management of Orthopedic Patients’ Part 2 (Rx=1.00)
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 opioid 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 a variety of different opioid alternatives including the risks of serotonin syndrome and how these can all apply to treating patients with orthopedic pain.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Practice Makes Better: Case Studies in Orthopedics (Rx=0.25)
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.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
“Back” to Basics: Managing Back Pain in the Orthopedic Patient (Rx=0.25)
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.
3:45 – 4:45 PM
On the Road Again: Recognition and Management of Common Orthopedic Injuries of the Foot and Ankle (Rx=0.25)
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.”
Jeremy Adler, DMSc, PA-C
6:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Learn: “Status Neutral” in Primary Care: A Fresh Look at the PCP’s Role in HIV Prevention
This session will empower primary care clinicians to offer preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in a primary care setting. Participants will learn how to start conversations to assess a patient’s risk of acquiring HIV. In a framework of providing status-neutral care, the session will cover implementation of PrEP services, including how to select an oral or long-acting injectable regimen based on patient preferences and characteristics and the latest clinical evidence, and how to initiate, monitor, and provide follow-up care.
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Chronic Pain Conditions – A Deeper Dive Into the Usual Suspects (Rx=0.25)
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.
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Pain Pathophysiology Part 1 – Bridging the Mechanism of Action of Non-opioid Medications (Rx=0.25)
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.
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Sponsored Lunch or Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Pain Pathophysiology Part 2 – Bridging the Mechanism of Action of Opioid Medications (Rx=0.25)
With the isolation of a specific opiate from opium in 1805, the foundation of modern opioid pharmaceuticals was set. Globally, opioids remain important medications, with their position secured on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. Since their initial discovery, a number of opioids have been formulated. The obvious question is, “Are all opioids the same?” This session will review the underlying neuroanatomy and physiology specific to opioids. Building upon the mechanism of action of opioids, specific effects of pharmacogenetics, metabolism-based drug interactions, and opioid receptor binding actions will be uncovered. Individual opioids, especially synthetic opioids, will challenge the concept that all opioids are equivalent.
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 3:45 PM
Aberrant Behaviors and Patient Monitoring (Rx=0.50)
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.
3:45 – 4:45 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.
Sarah Schettle, PA-C, MS, MBA
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 (Rx=0.25)
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 (Rx=0.25)
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.
Christine Kessler, MN, CNS, ACNP, ANP-BC, BC-ADM, FAANP
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 (Rx=0.25)
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 (Rx=0.50)
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 (Rx=0.75)
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 (Rx=0.50)
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.
Nancy Berman, MSN, ANP-BC, NCMP, FAANP
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 (Rx=0.50)
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 (Rx=0.25)
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 (Rx=0.50)
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 May 21
$987
Early Bird
On/Before June 21
$1,087
Advance
On/Before September 21
$1,137
Standard
After September 21
$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 May 21
$827
Advance
On/Before September 21
$877
Standard
After September 21
$927
CME Virtual Conference
Participate in this Live Streaming conference as though you are on-site with us! We have created a CME online experience that puts you right in the conference room. Watch in real-time, ask questions, and network with other live streaming attendees. You can participate in this CME conference from anywhere with a WiFi connection—poolside, hotel lobby, hotel room, or from the convenience of your home or office.
Recordings of the live event will be available for review for three days only, post-conference to all in-person and virtual participants.