This is a case presentation of a 19-year-old college student who presented to the emergency department with complaints consistent with rhabdomyolysis. No risk factors for rhabdomyolysis or activities that generally lead to rhabdomyolysis; urine drug screen negative. This occurred two more times without an etiology uncovered. We will review all admissions, lab values, other diagnostic tests, referral outcomes, treatments, and eventual diagnosis. The speaker will also introduce the patient at the end of the presentation for Q and A.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the fastest growing developmental disability in the US and a growing number of these patients are being seen in our offices. Healthcare providers receive very little, if any, education on how to care for these patients in healthcare setting. This lack of education and training can result in an escalation of preventable behaviors during the office visits, resulting in a missed diagnosis, preventable injury, and poor treatment plans. The nurse practitioner will learn how to prevent and manage challenging behaviors with adjustments to the physical exam, exam room accommodations and sensory tools.

This presentation will allow attendees to build confidence and a skill set at using guideline-directed medical decision making and treatment to improve outcomes, appropriately utilize resources and reduce future events in CVD.  The presentation will consider evidence-based risk stratification, the role of noninvasive cardiac testing and advanced cardiac assessment in the evaluation of patients presenting with chest pain. The presentation will also highlight important clinical decision-making strategies for special populations including women and communities of color.

Autonomic neuropathies are a heterogeneous, complex group of disorders that are difficult to diagnose and therefore often go unrecognized and untreated. Patients may experience of myriad of symptoms affecting multiple organ systems. This presentation will provide information on prevalence, diagnosis and available treatment options for autonomic neuropathies. At the conclusion, the nurse practitioner will be better equipped to employ strategies to assist individuals in achieving improved outcomes and quality of life.'

This presentation will review burnout among healthcare professionals, its origin, and its symptoms. Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased personal accomplishment, originating from the negative balance of physical, emotional, and spiritual energy accounts. By replenishing these energy accounts, healthcare providers create resilience. The speaker will discuss practical strategies to create and maintain resilience and guide the learners through the experience of self-compassion and gratitude practice, strategies they can incorporate to restore resilience.

Presentations of psychiatric illness and behavioral disorders in primary care are exceedingly common, however, require thorough interdisciplinary consideration. Without prompt and definitive care, these patients, care givers and peers are at risk for adverse outcomes. Rapid diagnosis and management of contributory medical problems is essential, as well as a guided, stepwise response to mental health problems that not only advances the care of the patient, but is responsive to the needs of stakeholders will be addressed.

This presentation will cover classic pediatric exanthems and will include more recent viral entities. The presentation will also cover important hypersensitivity reactions that occur in pediatric patients.

Communicating serious, upsetting or life-changing news to a patient may be one of the most difficult conversations a nurse practitioner (NP)will ever have. While it can be said that no person is truly ever "ready" or "comfortable" delivering this type of news, we can take steps to increase our self- awareness and learn how to communicate difficult or distressing news. The purpose of this presentation is to offer the NP practical guidance and tools for the difficult conversations each of us will likely have with a patient. The intended outcome is that the NP will gain self-confidence and practical tools that can be used in the sensitive and skillful delivery of bad or upsetting news.

Hypogonadism in men is a prevalent and treatable condition. This presentation will carefully review the evidence and separate evidence based clinical principles guiding the evaluation and treatment men with androgen deficiency from myths surrounding the role of androgens in male sexual function and sexuality, along with myths related to androgen replacement therapy versus their illicit use to enhance appearance and athletic performance. We will also review evidence concerning adverse side effects related to androgen replacement therapy and its long-term use.

Within the United States nearly 52 million, or 1 in 5 individuals experience mental illness, as well as another 19 million individuals with a diagnosis of substance use disorder. With a paucity of psychiatric specialists, nurse practitioners will be increasingly called upon to diagnose and treat a wide variety of mental health issues regardless of practice setting. In primary care, concerns related to mental health account for 20% of adult and over 30% of older adult office visits. The ability to provide an initial assessment of psychiatric symptoms is vital in gathering enough information to treat and/or triage and refer complex cases onto psychiatry. This presentation will provide an evidence-based approach that outlines the essential elements of psychiatric history taking, review of screening tools, discussion of common safety concerns specific to mental health, tips and tricks for psychiatric assessment and prescribing in a primary care setting.

This presentation will review the algorithms for gender affirming hormone therapy and explore common co-morbidities that require critical thinking in the setting of gender transition from an endocrine perspective.

Due to ongoing global disruptions (economic, climate, health), globalization, changing demography (generations, gender, race, migration patterns, etc.) there has been an increased focus on global inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access (GIDBEA). Many leaders in healthcare and beyond find it challenging to navigate the emerging terrains; to develop the necessary strategies to achieve organizational goals; and also manage contestation while simultaneously engaging relevant opportunities to promote organizational resilience and sustainability. In this presentation, Dr. Lisa Coleman, New York University, SVP for Global Inclusion and Strategic Innovation, will discuss specific multimodal strategies that can be used to cultivate organizational and multi-sector innovations, assets and opportunities, nimbleness, equity, and future-readiness to be more prepared for ongoing and continuous disruptions.

By attending this presentation, audience members will gain a better understanding of Effective Leadership Strategies to address evolving GIDBEA trends (i.e., generational and gender shifts); The role of conflict and belonging in fostering innovation and inclusive leadership practices (how to convert cancel culture and protests to incubation); and Aligning data- and asset-based approaches with GIDBEA strategies.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a complex and multi-faceted disorder that has a wide spectrum of symptoms and severity. The need for treatment options for these women has increased in recent years, and healthcare providers must be educated on these available drugs and therapies. This presentation will cover commercially-available treatments for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder which include: filibustering, bremelanotide, bupropion (off-label), and testosterone (off-label). This presentation will also review commercially available treatment options for VVA/GSM which include spermophile, prasterone/DHEA, and local estradiol.

The telemedicine (TM) transformation of 2020 profoundly changed patient care and providers around the world. Nearly overnight, providers faced the challenge of providing high quality care in the absence of traditional tools of diagnosis -- utilizing a tool they had never before received training or education to manage. More than one quarter of ambulatory visits will be delivered virtually moving forward. Research shows that providers are seeking opportunities to enable appropriate use of telemedicine, improving safety and quality for patient care. Existing TM clinical skills CME opportunities primarily address pre-pandemic populations; namely young, healthy patients with simple acute needs. I will present a practical and interactive approach utilizing best practices we have cultivated and studied at Johns Hopkins Medicine to improve the quality and generalizability of virtual care. I will orient providers of all skill levels to the unique strengths and limitations of telemedicine. I will present strategies for mitigating risk in the virtual space while delivering excellent care. Participants will leave the presentation with practical tools to enable full spectrum virtual ambulatory care.

Primary care providers are quickly becoming the first line in treating psychiatric disorders, partially because of the lack of psychiatric prescribers. It is critical to understand the psychotropic properties of medications and how to select which one to use. This presentation will review the most common psychotropics used in primary care, side effects, diagnostic screening tests and the evidenced based approaches to consider.

The diagnosis of myocardial infarction has evolved over time and discovery to include a spectrum of symptom presentations, diagnostic markers and evidence-based management. This presentation is designed to discuss this spectrum now identified as Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Antimicrobial stewardship is a system-wide approach to promoting and overseeing the safe and judicious use of antimicrobials. These standards protect patients of all ages from harm caused by unnecessary antibiotic use and combat antibiotic resistance. However, their use is not universal and has diminished during the COVID pandemic. Nurse practitioners can play a significant role in increasing adherence to antibiotic standards in all healthcare settings, from the NICU to long term care, improving clinical outcomes.

This presentation will review the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis of IBD for the NP in a variety of settings. In addition, current management of the IBD patient by the GI provider are described. Finally, important health maintenance issues are reviewed, which can be done by the primary care NP.

Join us for a comprehensive discussion of the latest changes in the diagnostics and treatment guidelines for sexually transmitted diseases. After a brief discussion, we will apply these changes to case studies you could see in clinic.

The presentation will discuss the spectrum of the initial signs and symptoms of PAD to worrisome critical limb ischemia. The presentation will include a discussion of clinical presentation, studies for diagnosis, and medical and surgical interventions.

Often patients present with dermatologic conditions involving the genitals. Skin disease of the genitals can be psychosocially distressing to our patients. Both the patient and clinician may be hesitant in addressing these complaints. Some patients may be hesitant to discuss their concerns and may attribute to sexually transmitted disease or cancer. Clinicians should feel confident in their ability to assess genital lesions, develop differential diagnosis, and referral for management when necessary. In this session, attendees will learn how to assess, develop differential diagnosis and manage infections, pre-cancerous, cancerous, and inflammatory skin conditions.

Women with diabetes face many health challenges in addition to glucose regulation. This presentation will cover the development of a woman from menarche to menopause in relation to diabetes. Health issues impacted by diabetes as well as potentially caused by diabetes will be discussed including risk stratification and treatment plans. At the conclusion, the nurse practitioner will be better equipped to employ strategies to assist women with diabetes in achieving improved outcomes and quality of life.

As nurse practitioners we are always looking for ways to provide our patients with ways to improve their quality of life. This past year so much stress and anxiety has been experienced by most everyone. This presentation is designed to provide an easy and simple method that is backed by tremendous amounts of research to inspire patients to improved balance and wellbeing.

This case-based presentation will provide an overview of commonly used antiviral medications used for respiratory infections, herpes infections, human papillomavirus, and viral hepatitis. Dosing considerations, common side effects, and evidence-based recommendations will be reviewed.

NPs in primary care are frequently challenged to manage acute and chronic pain and sometimes addiction. Understanding how to implement the nationally vetted safe opioid prescribing standards of care will increase patient safety, better mitigate misuse issues, affect pain management, and provide a legal defense for the NP if regulatory complaints or litigation issues arise.

The pandemic resulting from COVID 19 has left major scars within healthcare. The most serious cases resulted in sepsis and multi organ failure. Survivors of COVID induced sepsis, known as long-haulers, will have long term consequences that providers will need to address. This presentation will discuss the pathophysiology of sepsis, the consequences, and future therapeutic options.

This presentation will provide the attendee with an in-depth exploration of the science of substance use disorders and the associated pharmacologic treatments.

NPs who infrequently treat acute and chronic pain and patients with misuse histories will benefit by understanding the relationships between drug families, mechanisms of action and the appropriate times to prescribe them safely. This presentation will focus on pain pharmacology. How to identify appropriate candidates, while considering risk/benefits when prescribing. Helping providers move from confusion to proficiency when managing the pain patient.

Is the rash cellulitis or venous insufficiency? Is the rash cancerous or dermatitis? Healthcare providers are frequently asked to assess and diagnose lower extremity rashes. While there are many rashes that may develop on the lower extremities, many skin eruptions on the legs may have skin manifestations involving other portions of the body. In this session, clinicians will learn how to identify infectious, inflammatory and cancerous skin eruptions on the lower extremities, review pharmacotherapeutics of the lower extremity dermatoses, and referral for management when necessary.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines diabetes technology as any hardware, software and/or device used by people with diabetes to help manage their overall diabetes health and glucose levels. There have been many advances in diabetes technology over the years including hybrid devices, digital health technology, and software that serves as medical devices. This presentation will explore the latest advances in insulin pump technology including sensor augmented pumps and continuous glucose monitoring and demonstrate the utility and efficacy of these products in primary care. Additionally, participants will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to begin incorporating these devices into the treatment plans in their practice for patients with diabetes.

The question of how best to support the health and well-being of nurses, including advanced practice nurses, requires an urgent response, especially in light of the prevalence of clinician burnout and the impact of COVID-19. Learning how to manage stress and anxiety, implement effective, evidence-based techniques to address trauma, and prioritize self-care are keys to wellness. Skills for creating a culture that values wellness within clinical practice and academic settings are paramount.

Managing the patient with opioid use disorder and pain can be a conundrum. Identifying the appropriate candidate, safety recommendations and ongoing evaluation is key to successful management of the patient with OUD experiencing pain. This session will focus participants and all then to gain confidence and understanding of this patient population.

This presentation will provide an overview of the most current data on care of the LGBTQ adolescent. The presentation will focus on: 1) Health disparities in LGBTQ adolescents and how these disparities can be addressed by nurse practitioners (NPs); 2) Unique aspects of the health history and the NP clinical encounter with LGBTQ adolescents, including legal issues when providing care to LGBTQ minors; 3) Use of pharmacologic pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection in high-risk LGBTQ adolescents; and 4) Evidence-based strategies NPs can employ to increase community outreach with LGBTQ adolescents and directions for future research and scholarly inquiry in LGBTQ health.

This presentation will review the value of shared decision making in all stages of prostate cancer including early evaluation and diagnosis. The role of the nurse practitioner in shared decision making will be reviewed. Advantages to your practice include identification of scenarios where shared decision making will be valuable and translation of the skill of shared decision making to other patient populations.

Thirty-one percent of nurses report leaving their jobs due to burnout and greater than 60% of nurses report some symptoms of burnout. While these pre-pandemic numbers are staggering, nurse stressors have only increased over since COVID-19. While burnout can result in a lower level of patient care and can impact the mental health and wellness of the individual nurse, it is not untreatable or unavoidable. It should be treated like the chronic health conditions that we diagnose and treat with our patients on a daily basis. One key approach to combating burnout and compassion fatigue is to build resilience, increasing the ability to adapt successfully in the face of stressful or threatening situations. By building resilience through the strategies outlined, we, as NPs, can give ourselves some of the amazing health care we give our patients and stay in the profession that we worked so hard to get into.

The need for emergent therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 led to rapid investigations into multiple drug therapies. As time progressed and knowledge increased, new developments, both positive and negative, arose surrounding the efficacy of certain drugs. Changing guidelines and recommendations can lead to confusion regarding current best practice for COVID-19 treatment. This presentation will include discussion of three different drugs currently used for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The presenter will explain the pharmacology of the drugs, including how each works differently to treat COVID-19, current approved uses and NIH guidelines for use, and examine the latest evidence from trials in the literature. In addition, a brief look into potential future therapies will be presented.

This session will provide an overview and update on workplace violence. The scope of the problem will be framed with statistics and evidence on the epidemiology and most common types of workplace violence. The effects of violence on caregivers will be described, particularly in the setting of exposure to repeated incidences of violence. Current workplace protections in place will be reviewed and described as to how they can be applied in clinical settings. Available published evidence will be summarized to support practice changes. We will identify concrete interventions to address workplace violence that can be instituted in a variety of practice settings. Finally, the session will conclude with a policy/legal gap analysis to map out an action roadmap for future change.

First launched in the year 2000 as a novel approach for consumer access to convenient and affordable high-quality healthcare, convenient care delivered by Nurse Practitioners in retail clinic settings served as an important industry disruption. This session will provide an overview of the evolution, challenges and impact of the industry from inception to current day strategies as well as future directions intended to accelerate the advancement of optimal health and well-being across our nation’s communities. The discussion will also highlight the important contributions of Nurse Practitioner clinical, professional and leadership practice as essential elements to the success of the convenient care delivery model.

US has marked a seventh year of topping itself for all time high numbers of STIs. The CDC at long last revealed their new STI Guidelines in July 2021. Amongst the Covid cloud many did not get the memo. The treatments have been changed, new screening tests suggested and provider responsibilities have been updated. Come catch up on the original epidemic that has gone on for years without a dip in the curve. You will be caught up and able to pass the CDC provider certification on STIs.

This presentation examines the most current epidemiologic data regarding HIV infection in the United States, including an overview of persons at highest risk, the most recent data on incidence and prevalence, and the impacts of recent advances in prevention on HIV infection rates globally. The pathophysiology of HIV infection and the pathogenic process of HIV and AIDS will be reviewed. Evidence-based strategies will be provided regarding: 1) Prevention of HIV using pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis and non-pharmacologic approaches; 2) Interpretation of CD4 counts and HIV RNA levels (viral load); 3) Initiation and maintenance of antiretroviral therapies; and 4) The role of the NP in leading future research and clinical practice initiatives aimed at preventing and treating HIV infection and reducing health disparities in vulnerable populations.

The importance of prudent pain management cannot be overstated. This presentation will discuss the differences and similarities between opioid and non-opioid analgesics. Basic pharmacology of the two groups of analgesics along with clinical indications for each group will be discussed along with guidelines for appropriate prescribing. Emphasis will be placed on when one type of analgesic would be preferred over another.

Improving the clinician’s knowledge and skills in the management of the patient with acute and chronic pain, will help demystify and reduce the misconceptions associated with managing such a subjective and otherwise challenging diagnosis. Clinicians in ALL areas of practice are faced with the challenges of managing patients with pain, from the adolescent with a fracture that cannot be immobilized because of unmanaged severe pain, to the 81 y/o male with severe congestive cardiac failure who struggles with daily chest pain. Understanding the pathophysiology and mechanisms of pain, the current research and treatments, will empower clinicians in their knowledge and understanding, to provide their patients with evidenced based advice and treatment options. This timely seminar will focus on the importance of accurate assessment and multimodal management of both acute and chronic pain, through understanding of pain pathophysiology and mechanisms. Pain affects all aspects of healthcare, it is political, and in many ways mysterious. Over the course of this well-defined 3-hour seminar the audience will learn how to differentiate the types of pain, offer evidenced-based treatments, and be exposed to new innovative treatment approaches available today.

Cardiometabolic syndrome is a combination of metabolic dysfunctions mainly characterized by insulin resistance, impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidemia, hypertension and central adiposity. The World Health Organization recognizes cardiometabolic syndrome as a disease entity. The pathophysiology of the link between cardiometabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk is complex and multifactorial. Understanding the mechanisms of cardiometabolic syndrome can help practitioners identify and treat the increased cardiovascular risk these patients face. This presentation will focus on describing cardiometabolic syndrome and identifying the patient’s cardiovascular risk, as well as exploring any current treatments available to help decrease this risk.

Adrenal crisis is a rare and potentially life-threatening emergency. The presentation will enrich the learner's knowledge of adrenal crisis. Complex pathophysiology, diagnostics, etiologies, treatment modalities, prescribing methodologies, pharmacokinetics and drug-specific information for intravenous and enteral corticosteroids are discussed. Chronic adrenal insufficiency and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency are analyzed. Select case studies are presented to solidify discussion points.

NPs are experts in helping patients achieve optimal health. Studies have demonstrated that nature-based health care has multiple health-promoting benefits. Incorporating nature-based health promotion activities help with occupational-induced burnout and compassion fatigue in addition to lowering blood pressure and stress hormones that can contribute to other chronic health conditions.

This program is designed to provide nurse practitioners the foundational and practical knowledge to prescribe and monitor drug therapy use to treat nicotine dependence. In addition to the basic pharmacology of the drugs, this program will review guidelines regarding the best choice of medication for a given patient based on current literature. The program will also address the side/adverse effects, drug-drug interactions and dosage from as key elements in drug therapy selection.

This session will challenge the nurse practitioner to learn more about cardiovascular risk reduction while considering both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to treatment.  

This presentation will discuss various autoimmune diseases, physical findings, diagnostic testing and current treatment options.

Prediabetes is an intermediate state between normal glucose regulation and Type 2 Diabetes. According to the CDC, 84.1 million Americans have prediabetes. The natural history of type 2 diabetes involves a progressive deterioration in many physiologic factors that can be seen several years before the diagnosis. Patients with prediabetes have an increased risk of both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Therefore, it is important for practitioners to understand and identify these factors and implement any appropriate treatment to prevent conversion to diabetes as well as prevention of cardiovascular risks. This presentation will explore prediabetes and identify the risks associated with the disease. It will discuss how to reduce the risk and any treatment options for 2022.

Recent advances in biotechnology have paved the way for topical and systemic medications that offer increased efficacy with fewer side effects for both infectious and inflammatory dermatologic conditions. This presentation will focus on new treatment options for common skin conditions often seen in the primary care setting for both adult and pediatric patients. This lecture will provide you with an armory of new treatment options approved for conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), acne, rosacea, warts, lice, and hair loss, just to name a few.

In this presentation you will be given an understanding of contraceptives that are still in use, retired, and what is in development. A clarifications of what birth control is best for what medical condition. Limitations and expansions will be covered. What formula should you start with and when it does not work, what to switch to and why will be discussed. Contraceptives for men will also be introduced.

There has been an increase in referrals and consultative requests to the National Hansen’s Disease Program (NHDP) for Hansen’s disease (HD) services in the past three years from advanced practice providers. The NHDP is a 100 year-old program that has been physician-centric when providing education outreach to the health care community. This identified gap in outreach and education to advanced practice providers may delay accurate diagnosis and care to HD patients throughout the country. HD is a chronic but curable infectious disease caused by acid-fast bacilli, Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis (Sharma, et al., 2020). The global prevalence and incidence of HD is highly prevalent in endemic countries such as, Africa, Brazil, India and Indonesia (ALM, 2020; CDC, 2017; WHO, 2019).  Although HD is curable, it continues to cause disabilities globally as well as in the United States of America. Worldwide, three million people are estimated to be permanently disabled from complications of HD (Elflien, J., 2021; WHO 2019). Delayed or untreated HD can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes (CDC, 2017; HRSA, 2020; WHO, 2019). Typical skin lesions and classic neuropathy associated with HD are readily recognized in countries where HD is common, but in the U.S., where HD is rare, it can be difficult to diagnose (CDC, 2017; HRSA, 2020). An HD patient in the U.S. sees an average of three healthcare providers before receiving the correct diagnosis. Equipping U.S. healthcare providers with the tools required to manage HD can have a significant impact on addressing knowledge gaps in the area of HD recognition, diagnosis and treatment.

As depression and anxiety are the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in primary care, this presentation aims to help the primary care NP manage patient’s symptoms using brief interventions. Several brief intervention skills will be introduced to enable NPs to begin to develop a tool box of skills. Short video vignettes will assist NPs to put these skills into practice within the trusted environment of their patient’s medical home, strengthening the therapeutic alliance.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder for both adolescents and adults. One third of adolescents will experience anxiety disorder. Some anxiety and fear are a part of normal development and the human experience. When the anxiety becomes disruptive, a plethora of problems may occur. Even though  anxiety disorders are very common and prevalent, the conditions are still under recognized and under treated especially among youth and young adults. Clinical expertise is required when evaluating this population to differentiate anxiety disorders from normal psychological processes. This evidence-based presentation will focus on the identification and diagnosis of anxiety disorders among adolescents and young adults. Differential diagnosis and comorbidity will be examined and discussed. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities in the management of anxiety disorders will be explained. The impact of Covid-19 on anxiety in adolescents and young adults will be examined as well as the suicide risk. The most recent clinical practice guideline by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry will be discussed.

Fungal infections lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Neutropenic patients are at high risk for contracting fungal infections but non-neutropenic patients also need to be included in the decision-making process when initiating early antifungal therapy. Treatment for candidiasis and aspergillosis will be explored using case studies of common and complicated patient situation.

The skin is our largest organ. Changes in the skin can signal the clinician to underlying systemic diseases including rheumatologic, gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders. It can may also heighten your suspicion for cancer. Armed with this knowledge, nurse practitioners have the ability to diagnose and manage disease in patients who present with cutaneous symptoms.

This session will cover typical contract language as well as how to overcome barriers to successful negotiation of a salary and benefit packages. Attendees will also learn fundamental strategies and helpful tips for negotiations in addition to learning how to evaluate an offer and best approaches to counter-offering. Common contract clauses will be discussed. The NP will leave this session feeling empowered to negotiate the best salary and contract!

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common yet complex conditions treated by nurse practitioners (NPs) in the primary care setting. Despite novel drugs and lifestyle recommendations, a significant percentage of patients with diabetes are not meeting treatment goals (Ali et al., 2013). This presentation will outline some of the myths surrounding diabetes management from both patient and provider perspective. The presenters will discuss how NPs can address these myths using evidence-based practice to help patients achieve optimal diabetes control. 

Many patients struggle with discussing sexual issues with their providers. But now you can initiate that conversation with the knowledge of how each drug class impacts sexuality. You will be equipped to discern what alternatives are available and when to switch drug classes. You will be provided an opening script to open this often-tough conversation.

This presentation will provide an overview of the incidence and impact of burn injuries in the United States. Burn-specific mechanisms of injury will be detailed. Guidelines for identifying, describing and classifying burns will be presented. Evidence-based treatment options will be discussed, including considerations for special populations. Finally, indications for referral to a burn center are outlined to assist nurse practitioners in outpatient or urgent care settings to appropriately triage and treat burn -injured patients of all ages.

Thyroid disease is commonly seen in primary care. Patients with autoimmune thyroid disease can be diagnosed and treated in the primary care setting. This presentation will review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and referring guidelines for the care of patients with thyroid disease.

Lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy. As a primary care provider, you will encounter patients who present with symptoms concerning for lymphoma, who are undergoing active treatment, or who have a history of lymphoma. This presentation is geared toward the primary care provider and will give an overview of common lymphoma subtypes, how to evaluate when lymphoma is suspected, what to expect with certain types of lymphoma, what to expect during and after treatment, and how you can help in the care of your patient as a primary care provider. Survivorship issues of lymphoma patients will also be discussed.

Building upon the revised diagnostic framework of the DSM-5, this presentation defines somatic symptom disorders, reducing the focus upon lacking medical explanations for physical symptoms in order to make the diagnosis of “medically unexplained symptoms.” With the renewed goal of increasing patient access to appropriate treatment, symptoms that are substantially more severe than expected in association with distress and impairment are emphasized. The presentation explores conditions with no medical explanation and conditions where there is some underlying pathology but an exaggerated response. These concepts are operationalized to enhance the nurse practitioner’s skill in assessing, diagnosing and managing these challenging disorders in a variety of settings.

There are gaps in our education in treating skin of color that contribute to health disparities. This session will share key insights along with the latest diagnostics and management of common skin conditions in patients with skin of color. High quality dermatologic care means safe, effective, and culturally competent care to diverse patient populations.

This presentation is intended to help the NP understand the differences among the populations under the LGBTQIA+ acronym. Many patients who are gender diverse tend to underutilize healthcare due to previous or perceived discrimination. Using appropriate terminology and creating a welcoming environment will go a long way in helping LGBTQIA+ patients seek health care in a safe, affirming practice.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly occurring sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The prevalence increases with age and approximately 8% of patients over the age of 80 have this cardiac rhythm disturbance. Assessment and treatment recommendations for AF have been evolving over the years.
Recognition of hemodynamic consequences of AF will help the NP determine if office management or urgent hospital admission is necessary. Decisions regarding rate or rhythm control will ultimately influence the need for referral to a cardiologist and/or electrophysiologist. This session will review etiology, clinical presentation and evidence-based diagnosis and management strategies for this common arrhythmia.

Vaccines continue to be the one of the best preventative measures in protecting against vaccine-preventable diseases and certain cancers. This presentation will provide you the latest updates to vaccine recommendations. New vaccines and latest recommendations will be reviewed as well as latest vaccines on the horizon and strategies for increasing vaccine uptake across the lifespan.

It is well-established that the immune response and inflammation are a complex interplay of physiological factors that affect how we respond to infections and diseases. Conversely, lifestyle behaviors' impact on immunity is often overlooked. This presentation discusses the influence of six healthy lifestyle behaviors as a component of a well-functioning immune system, essential for good health, particularly needed during acute respiratory illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia. Additionally, individuals with lifestyle-related chronic diseases are more likely to develop severe complications from acute respiratory infections when the immune system is not functioning optimally. To optimize immunity, pragmatic recommendations to adopt healthy eating habits are highlighted. Also, this presentation includes strategies to stress less, move often, avoid alcohol, rest more, and treat tobacco abuse for improved immunity and wellbeing.

So many patients have experienced such bias and stigma in the healthcare settings that we must be able to understand this lived experience. This presentation will discuss how bias and stigma impacts our patients with obesity from the lived experience of two patients, one who has made his life's work about advocating for people with obesity and the other an NP living with obesity. The current research to more fully understand the patient perspective will be reviewed as well as the research that demonstrates our own possible bias related to patients with obesity.

The talk will discuss the latest guidelines for treating adults with chronic heart failure (HF) with an emphasis on patients with reduced ejection fraction. Focus will be on how to optimize guideline-directed medical therapy in these complex patients. Strategies will be provided for ways to overcome barriers to medication titration, including when to refer to a HF specialist.

This beginner level course is aimed at increasing knowledge of insulin dosing, initiation and titration. Current guidelines and individualized patient management will be discussed. Barriers to insulin therapy and strategies to improve patient adherence will be covered using a case study approach.

Patients presenting with dizziness or vertigo require a comprehensive history and physical examination. Nurse practitioners must be skilled after differentiating potential etiologies including High Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss, BPV, Basilar Migraines as well as central nervous system and cardiac etiology. This lecture will provide the clinician with diagnostic and treatment options for these patients.

The transgender community has suffered, either in silence or at the hands of others due to mistreatment, victimization, harassment, and discrimination. Although there has been an increase in awareness to the healthcare needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, patients who identify as transgender continue to encounter high levels of mistreatment when seeking healthcare. Approximately one-third of patients have reported experiencing at least one negative experience related to being transgender in the healthcare setting, while one-quarter chose not to seek out the healthcare they needed due to the fear of being mistreated. This presentation provides the audience with a general overview of how to provide inclusive and affirming care to patients who hold gender diverse backgrounds in the primary care setting. Particular importance on the following concepts will be addressed: terminology, discussion of the health inequities and disparities gender diverse patients face, resources and strategies to provide an inclusive and affirming environment, discussion of required criteria for gender affirming hormone therapy and its impact on patients who hold gender diverse backgrounds, hematological parameters specific to such population, gender affirming garments clinicians may encounter within the healthcare setting, and lastly an overview of gender affirming surgeries across the gender spectrum.

Pulmonary function testing is crucial to the proper assessment and management of patients with known lung disease or to aid in the diagnostic process of individuals who present with respiratory symptoms, abnormal chest imaging and abnormalities in gas exchange. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) also provide longitudinal data to guide treatment of patients with various respiratory diseases and can help stratify the risk of pulmonary complications in patients undergoing thoracic and extra-thoracic surgery. This seminar will focus on the three components of PFTs:  spirometry, lung volumes and diffusing capacity. We will utilize real patient case scenarios and PFTs to provide the attendees with the knowledge needed for utilizing these tests to improve diagnosis and management in patient care.

Many providers are confident in their ability to identify obvious cutaneous malignancies, however it is critical for the provider to be able to enhance their knowledge and ability to identify warning signs of rare cutaneous malignancies. Given their high risk of morbidity and mortality, prompt diagnosis and referral are critical to patient care. This lecture will provide the attendee with a case based approached to identification, diagnosis and management of common and rare cutaneous malignancies.

Overview of the different types of tick-borne pathogens and transmission of disease. The incidence and clinical presentation of each type of tick-borne pathogens will be reviewed in detail as each pathogen has markedly different as well as similar traits. Differentiation will be made to understand the difference of each disease as well as co-existing infections. Diagnostic testing, current therapies and medication risks are discussed and reviewed. Alternative therapies and prevention tactics will also be presented.

This presentation will provide information regarding the identification of women and men with a diagnosis of osteoporosis and increased fracture risk based on bone densitometry T-scores or because of a high 10-year fracture risk by the FRAX calculation tool. The presentation will address patient selection for screening, lab testing after diagnosis of osteoporosis, and non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions. There will be a discussion regarding choosing appropriate initial pharmacologic therapy for patients whether they are at high or very high risk for fracture based on T-scores, FRAX 10-year risk percentage and history of previous hip or vertebral fracture. Risks and benefits of osteoporosis medications will be discussed and the role of sequencing in patients with very high fracture risk. Current controversies will be addressed including long-term use of bisphosphonates, adverse events including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical subtrocanteric femur fractures and drug holidays. New concerns about discontinuation of rank ligand inhibitors and the rapid increase in vertebral fractures will be discussed. Treatment of patients at high risk due to therapy such as aromatase inhibitors and androgen deprivation therapy will be presented. Case studies will be used to provide real clinical scenarios aiding in proper management and follow-up.

There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence and prevalence of pediatric patients with behavioral health conditions over the past decade. This has been further intensified by the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. It is imperative that advanced practice providers in all practice settings have the knowledge and skill set to provide high-quality, safe, and effective evaluation and management of this patient population as this situation is currently in a state of crisis. The focus of this presentation is to provide information that will guide the advanced practice provider through the clinical decision-making process and application of trauma-informed strategies. An evidence-based trauma informed approach to conducting the essential components of a patient centered interview, including collateral information and ancillary studies will be included. A discussion of pearls and pitfalls in the identification and management of a medical emergency versus a behavioral health emergency in children and adolescents will also be included. Through a case-study approach the final component of this presentation will be a discussion of the recognition and acute management of the most common pediatric behavioral health conditions including depression, suicidality, aggression, and disorganized thought process.

This presentation will review the current diagnosis and treatment of cardiac dysrhythmias. Patients can present to the hospital or office with complaints of palpitations, shortness of breath, lethargy or even for a routine visit and be found to have a dysrhythmia. When can the patient be referred for an outpatient cardiology appointment versus the need for hospital evaluation? This will be a case-based approach, reviewing rhythm strips and EKGs along with clinical presentation and then moving on to diagnosis and treatment. This presentation will describe inpatient and outpatient management of various dysrhythmias seen across the lifespan. Dysrhythmias to be discussed include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia ventricular tachycardia. Acute clinical presentations, methods to distinguish between the dysrhythmias, as well as acute and long-term treatment will be reviewed.

This presentation will be a review of the most common types of cutaneous manifestations, including SLE, scleroderma, vasculitis and dermatomyositis.

This presentation covers strategies for initiating, adjusting and intensifying insulin therapy with a focus on Type 2 Diabetes. Concepts of carbohydrate counting, multi-daily dose adjustments, and ongoing modifications to get and maintain target A1C will be discussed. Calculations such a total daily insulin (TDI), insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio (ICR), and correction factor (CF) will be presented in case studies to demonstrate key concepts.

Alcohol misuse is the single leading risk factor for premature death and disability. An estimated 8 million people in the United States are alcohol dependent. Despite the prevalence, our inpatient methods for identification and treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal remain inefficient. Acute alcohol withdrawal complicates the hospital course of 2 % of all admissions to the hospital, guaranteeing our interaction with this deadly complication. Practitioners identify a knowledge deficit of the pathophysiology of acute alcohol withdrawal and concerns regarding the appropriate treatment partnered with the complexity it layers into a routine admission. This presentation will provide a review of the disease process as well as updates on pharmacological treatment to optimize patient safety and increase the proficiency of the practitioner.

This presentation will review the foundation of HPV epidemiology and how it has driven changes in screening and risk-based cervical cancer prevention. The new American Cancer Society screening guidelines will be presented which support the role of primary (stand-alone) HPV testing as the initial screen in women with a cervix who do not have symptoms of cervical cancer, diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer, and do not have a health condition that weakens the immune system, such as solid organ transplant. The new ASCCP Risk-Based Management Guidelines for management of abnormal screening tests and cancer precursors will be presented which were developed from a panel of 19 participating organizations and have changed management from result based to risk based. There will be a discussion of the data that led to the new management guidelines and how to use both current results and past history to determine management by colposcopy, treatment or surveillance based on a patient’s risk of CIN3+ using the management algorithm. The presentation will also address the enduring nature of these guidelines as new technologies and tests can be added to the current app which will determine clinical action thresholds for patient management.

Anemia can be a major disease or be a clue to a major disease. This presentation walks the learner through an organized and methodical approach to evaluating a patient who presents with anemia.

This presentation will describe and update pharmacologic management of infections of the urinary system, including urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. We will also review infections of the male genital system including urethritis, epididymitis and prostatitis.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide the primary care provider with pharmacoeducation on the use of psychotropic medications appropriate for use by primary care providers. Focus includes evidence-based recommendations for the management of anxiety, depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Patients with congenital heart disease are now surviving to adulthood. As this occurs, primary care practices will see more and more of these patients. Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) patients can range from simple (patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect) to complex (single ventricle physiology and Eisenmenger syndrome). This presentation will review common congenital heart disease diagnoses and the latest in ACHD interventions and therapies. We will also discuss pregnancy considerations in ACHD. We will review some techniques to help determine possible diagnoses based on their knowledge of surgeries, discuss special considerations and discuss when to refer to specialty care.

They are common, confusing, and often mimic other disorders --- but can quickly evolve into a medical emergency: Acute Endocrinopathies. A delay in treatment aimed at the precise hormonal disorder is almost always lethal. Using real acute care case studies, this lively session will provide attendees with expert, endocrinology tips on how to effectively identify, evaluate and provide urgent interventions for selected non-diabetic endocrine emergencies, such as thyroid storm, myxedema coma, acute adrenal insufficiency, and hypercalcemia.

Endometriosis is a chronic lifelong inflammatory condition that significantly alters the quality of life for many women. Endometriosis affects 6-10% of reproductive age women with the average age at diagnosis being 28 years of age. Diagnosis is often made after women spend 5-7 years seeking help from many specialty providers to get a definitive diagnosis. Endometriosis is diagnosed by the presence of viable estrogen sensitive endometrial like glands and stroma outside the uterus by retrograde menstruation or part of an inherent dysfunction of the peritoneal immune system. Surgery remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis allowing for direct visualization of disease and histological evaluation of resected tissue. The goal of treatment is to control and reduce symptoms and prevent recurrences. During this presentation, clinicians will learn how to assist their patients in getting a diagnosis of endometriosis and how to manage this often misunderstood chronic pelvic pain condition.

This presentation will walk the provider through the management of a patient with an aneurysmal, or non-traumatic, subarachnoid hemorrhage. Ruptured aneurysms have a significant mortality rate and accurate diagnosis along with appropriate management is key to improving outcome. First and foremost, the patient should be at a high-volume center with both neurosurgical and endovascular services. Initial presentation is traditionally a thunderclap headache, although a sentinel headache could be easily misdiagnosed and if missed is associated with worse outcomes. Testing performed should include a non-contrast CT head, lumbar puncture for evaluation of xanthochromia or MRI brain. If a subarachnoid hemorrhage is diagnosed, a CTA head vs a diagnostic cerebral angiogram for vascular imaging should be obtained. Once an aneurysm ruptures it needs immediate treatment either via clipping, coiling or pipeline stenting due to risk of rebleeding. Among the most critical complications that can occur are hydrocephalus (requiring external ventricular drain placement), vasospasm and rebleeding. Other medical complications include fever, anemia, hyponatremia, HIT/DVT and volume status. Finally, there will be 3 case studies to reinforce teaching and to go further in depth into the management and subsequent complications that arise that make this such a complex patient population.

Hair loss disorders and unwanted hair growth can be physically and emotionally distressing for patients. They can be overwhelming and confusing for clinicians who do not have a sound understanding of their etiology and appropriate treatment strategies. While some disorders can be considered cosmetic, others are sign of systemic disease. This lecture will “get to the root” of various conditions of the follicle. From unwanted hair growth to hair loss disorders such as Alopecia areata, Androgenetic Alopecia and Cicatricial Alopecias, this lecture will provide the attendee with a practical clinical approach to the accurate assessment, diagnosis and management

Assessing an individual for a possible risk of suicide saves lives. Using the CASE Method, the participants will learn how to conduct an advanced assessment for the risk of suicide. Instruction will include how to facilitate a Personal Safety Plan to determine the level of care that is needed. The combination of the CASE Method of assessment and the Personal Safety Plan creates an active, collaborative problem-solving relationship between the nurse and the patient. A case study format will be utilized to reinforce skill development.

More than 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma each year. While sarcoma represents roughly 1% new malignancies diagnosed in the United States annually, primary care and specialist providers should possess a general familiarity with the diagnostic and management considerations of the patient with a soft tissue tumor in the extremity. This case-based presentation will offer participants an overview of the various imaging modalities used to assess these tumors and the clinical features associated with many of the most common benign and malignant soft tissue tumors found in the extremities.