MER Primary Care Conferences Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine for Primary Care Mar 20-22, 2026

MER Primary Care Conferences Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine for Primary Care Mar 20-22, 2026

1. Overview

This is a primary care medical conference organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization. The conference is titled “Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine for Primary Care”. It will be held from March 20-22, 2026, at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, AZ.

2. Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

• Compare and contrast inflammatory & non-inflammatory joint pain and their differential diagnoses.

• Review the risks and benefits of the treatment options for arthritis (non-selective NSAIDs, cox-2 inhibitors, DMARDs, narcotics and tramadol).

• Discuss physical examination of joints/soft tissue in the diagnosis of regional pain syndromes.

• Identify important landmarks and proper techniques for injecting the major joints.

• Describe the differential diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis based on clinical presentation and laboratory workup.

• Utilize current evidence to design treatment strategies for osteoarthritis.

• Diagnose and treat gout and pseudogout.

• Perform an examination of joints and soft tissues.

• Identify the risks and benefits of utilizing bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis.

• Describe the technique of joint aspiration, joint injection, and synovial fluid analysis.

• Compare the benefits and side effect profiles of pharmacologic treatment options for fibromyalgia.

• Discuss available evidence and evaluate when cannabis use is appropriate in medicine.

3. Target Audience

• This program is targeted to office-based primary care providers and other health professionals with updates in primary care medicine.
• Best for internists, primary care physicians, and rheumatologists.

4. Topics

Friday, March 20, 2026

• Rheumatology – Evaluating the Patient with Joint Pain: Differentiating between inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint pain; The utility of joint aspiration and lab work-up with interpretation of synovial fluid analysis; Differential diagnosis of joint pain and inflammatory arthritis.

• Rheumatology – Update in Pharmacology for Arthritis: Review risks and benefits of traditional NSAIDs and cox-2 inhibitors; Analgesics (narcotics and tramadol), acetaminophen, conventional-synthetic DMARDs, and bDMARDs.

• Rheumatology – Differential Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthritis: Clinical presentation and laboratory work-up and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthropathies (SPA), infectious arthritis and systemic sclerosis; Treatment of RA with DMARDs; Treatment principles of SLE, Sjogren’s, SPA and PMR.

• Rheumatology – Physical Examination of Joints and Soft Tissue & Diagnosis of Regional Pain Syndromes: Includes: carpal tunnel syndrome; De Quervain’s tenosynovitis; epicondylitis; impingement; hip, knee, ankle and foot overuse syndromes.

• All Faculty – Joint & Soft Tissue Examination Workshop: Small-group workshops.

Saturday, March 21, 2026

• Rheumatology – Osteoarthritis: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.

• Rheumatology – Crystal Disease: Gout & Pseudogout: Properly diagnosing and treating crystal diseases such as gout and pseudogout.

• Rheumatology – Osteoporosis: Review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of osteoporosis along with interpretation of DEXA scans and FRAX risk assessment; up-to-date therapeutic options.

• All Faculty / Rheumatology – Panel Discussion/Joint Injection Technique: Interactive panel discussion with all faculty covering all aspects of rheumatology; Instruction on proper joint injection technique of major joints including shoulder, elbow, fingers, hip, knee, and ankle.

• All Faculty – Joint Aspiration & Injection Technique Workshop: Small-group workshops.

Sunday, March 22, 2026

• Rheumatology – Fibromyalgia: Differential diagnosis and treatment of this difficult-to-manage pain syndrome; Treatment options of anti-epileptics and SNRI’s.

• Rheumatology – Update on Cannabis as Medicine for Primary Care: Cannabis mechanism of action; Clinical effects on pain; Addiction, withdrawal and dependency; Adverse effects.