Introducing SAA’s Primary Care and Chiropractic Initiative: Accredited Continuing Education Focused on Earlier SpA Diagnosis

11/23/2021

There have been many advances in spondyloarthritis research and treatment in the past decade. Yet one obstacle remains largely unmoved – our community is STILL waiting an average of seven to 10 years for a diagnosis. That’s seven to 10 years of the average undiagnosed person living with symptoms they don’t understand and don’t know how to manage. Seven to 10 years of the disease doing its damage uncontrolled and unchecked by treatment – damage that cannot be undone. It’s unacceptable, and changing it is imperative.

SAA is tackling this issue by rolling out two accredited continuing education programs to aid primary care and chiropractic professionals (professionals who often see, and sometimes miss recognizing, undiagnosed SpA patients) in the early recognition of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) symptoms.

Thanks to generous funding from a long-time, valued donor, SAA has been able to conceptualize, develop, and is now launching two interactive, highly engaging, accredited online learning activities: one specifically designed for primary care providers – including PCPs, NPs, and PAs – and a second for chiropractors. While these two learning activities have different audiences, and differ somewhat in their specific content, the main objective of both is to aid these medical professionals in the early recognition of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) symptoms. We’re excited to announce the launch of these programs!

Demystifying AxSpA in Primary Care: Recognition, Diagnosis, and What Comes Next

This accredited educational activity aims to increase recognition and understanding of axSpA among primary care providers, specifically focusing on helping the learners identify key signs and symptoms, conduct an appropriate work-up, and know when to refer to rheumatology.

This accredited activity is hosted on FreeCME and can be accessed here.

*This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of EXCEL Continuing Education and The Spondylitis Association of America. EXCEL Continuing Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Spotting Axial Spondyloarthritis in Chiropractic Settings: Is AxSpA Behind Your Patient’s Back Pain?

This is a uniquely chiropractic-targeted educational activity, geared toward helping chiropractors appropriately suspect axSpA in their chronic back pain patients, and urge them to refer for further evaluation. It also stresses the danger of specific chiropractic modalities (high velocity “adjustment”) for anyone with spinal fusion.

This accredited activity is hosted on FreeCME and can be accessed here.

SAA remains committed to improving the lives of all people living with spondyloarthritis, and we believe these educational programs will further ongoing efforts to reduce diagnostic delays, and help those still looking for answers.