UCSF Hot Topics in Primary Care Medicine 2020 
Harvard Emergency Medicine: Updates & Current Practices 2024 
The practice of pain medicine is undergoing tremendous changes as a result of therapeutic advances, healthcare reform, and the impact of the opioid crisis and COVID-19. Cleveland Clinic’s Intensive Update in Pain Management features in-depth reviews and analyses of recent advances in pain medicine and regional anesthesia/analgesia.
In this online CME course, a renowned faculty provide insightful assessment and clinical practice evaluation of key topics to:
- Promote a better understanding of the pathophysiology of acute and chronic pain
- Enhance knowledge regarding various chronic somatic and neuropathic pain conditions
- Critically review novel state-of-the-art interventional and non-interventional techniques in diagnosis and management of chronic pain
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this CME activity, the participant will be able to:
- Review current evidence from research and clinical trials and describe their application to pain management practices
- Develop strategies to provide optimal pain care that address the regulatory, billing, and ethical challenges in pain practice
- Assess the efficacy and adverse effects of emerging therapies for pain and describe their potential use in clinical practice
- Describe the most effective use of neuromodulation techniques and devices as they apply to specific patient diagnoses
- Analyze the role of opioid analgesics to treat acute and chronic pain in the face of the national opioid epidemic
- Summarize the efficacy of various physical, medical, and surgical approaches to treating chronic low back pain
- Critically review the efficacy and safety data on cannabis and cannabinoids and discuss their use in chronic pain treatment
- Examine the recent options for the evaluation and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal, joint, and myofascial pain
- Demonstrate the technical skills needed to perform interventional pain procedures
Intended Audience
This activity is designed practitioners and healthcare professionals who seek to learn the latest developments in pain medicine, including anesthesia providers, interventional pain specialists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, orthopedic and spine surgeons, neurologists, neurosurgeons, headache specialists, palliative care specialists, primary care physicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and residents and fellows in training interested in the practice of pain management.
TOPICS / SPEAKERS
The Fundamentals
Anatomic Basis for Treating Joint Pain – Maxim Eckmann, MD
Interventional Approaches to Managing Chronic Musculoskeletal Joint Pain – Maxim Eckmann, MD
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Essentials of Our Current Understanding – Magdalena Anitescu, MD, PhD
Surgical Approaches for Low Back Pain and Spinal Stenosis – Michael P. Steinmetz, MD
Panel Discussion – Question and Answer – Session Faculty
Regulatory, Billing and Ethical Challenges in Pain Practice
State Medical Boards and Opioid Prescribing – Damean Freas, DO
Medicare Billing Changes – Impact on Practice – Sharon Merrick, MS, CCS-P
Challenges in Utilizing Digital Medicine for Chronic Pain Management – Kevin Vorenkamp, MD
Solutions to Problematic Billing and Coding Situations – Sharon Merrick, MS, CCS-P
Emerging Pharmacological and Interventional Treatment
TDD vs SCS: Conventional Wisdom vs Science – Nagy Mekhail, MD, PhD
Basi-vertebral Nerve Ablation – Magdalena Anitescu, MD, PhD
Shoulder Radiofrequency Ablation – Maxim Eckmann, MD
Interspinous Spacers for Spinal Stenosis – Timothy R. Deer, MD
What is the Role of Evoked Compound Action Potential (ECAP) Monitoring in Neuromodulation Outcomes? – Erika A. Petersen, MD
Panel Discussion – Question and Answer – Session Faculty
Neuromodulation: Effective Utilization of Targets, Techniques, and Devices
What are the Unmet Needs in Neuromodulation in 2022? – Nagy Mekhail, MD, PhD
High Frequency Stimulation – Erika A. Petersen, MD
Burst Stimulation – Timothy R. Deer, MD
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation – Vafi Salmasi, MD
Feedback Modified Stimulation – Erika A. Petersen, MD
Do Multiple Waveforms Diminish SCS Tolerance? – Timothy R. Deer, MD
Intrathecal Drug Delivery – Shrif Costandi, MD
Neuromodulation – Effective Utilization of Targets, Techniques, and Devices DRG Stimulation – Lynn R. Kohan, MD
Neuromodulation – Changing Paradigms and Devices: How Do I Choose the Best One For My Patient?
Matching the Diagnosis and the Technique/Device for the Best Patient Outcome – A Case Discussion with the Experts – Moderator: Nagy Mekhail, MD, PhD, Panelists: Timothy R. Deer, MD; Maxim Eckmann, MD; Erika A. Petersen, MD; David A. Provenzano, MD; Vafi Salmasi, MD; Shalini Shah, MD
The National Opioid Epidemic: Finding Balance in a Changing Environment
Opioid Stewardship at the Provincial Level – Hance Clarke, MD, PhD
Perioperative Pain Management for Major Spine Surgical Procedures – A Surgeon’s Perspective – Michael P. Steinmetz, MD
Misapplication of Guidelines in Addressing the Opioid Crisis? – Richard W. Rosenquist, MD
What is the Role of the Transitional Pain Service? – Hance Clarke, MD, PhD
Safely Tapering Opioids – Is There a Recipe or Best Practice? – Lynn R. Kohan, MD
Low Back Pain
Optimizing Surgical Referrals for Low Back Pain – Michael P. Steinmetz, MD
Medical Management of Chronic Back Pain – Ellen W. K. Rosenquist, MD
Long-term Management After Failed Surgical Outcomes – Vafi Salmasi, MD
Regenerative Treatments for Low Back Pain – Evidence and Current Status – Kevin Vorenkamp, MD
Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain: Optimizing Treatment Recommendations for Long-Term Success – Philip Toal, PT, DPT
Complications Following Spinal Fusion Procedures – Imbalance and Adjacent Segment Disease – Michael P. Steinmetz, MD
Panel Discussion – Question and Answer – Session Faculty
Medical Marijuana
Role of Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain Treatment – Hance Clarke, MD, PhD
Musculoskeletal Pain Management: Expanding Options for Full Spectrum Treatment
Evaluating the Patient with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain – Vafi Salmasi, MD
Ultrasound Guided Joint and Tendon Injections – Sree Kolli, MD
Physical Therapy for Joint Pain – Formal and Home Based Treatments – Philip Toal, PT, DPT
Myofascial Pain – Common Locations and Contemporary Treatments – George E. Girgis, DO
Panel Discussion – Question and Answer – Session Faculty
Date of Original Release: April 30, 2022
Date of Credit Termination: April 30, 2025
