Courses

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus affects the skin and mucosa in approximately 70% of patients diagnosed with the disease.

1. Cutaneous lupus lesions often help clinicians diagnose systemic lupus and are associated with worse disease prognosis
2. Patients with skin of color and lupus are exposed to even greater risk, as they are diagnosed at younger ages with more severe disease than their white counterparts
3. These factors make early recognition of cutaneous findings, timely diagnosis, and prompt treatment among all patients essential for optimizing disease outcomes.

Introduction: Chronic rheumatic diseases can impact patients in multiple ways, including potentially affecting their mental health, cognitive function, physical abilities, and work capabilities. Rheumatologists help patients understand their diagnoses, generate care plans that incorporate their preferences, and assist them in overcoming limitations so that they may accomplish their goals. Rheumatologists support patients' achievements through writing letters of accommodation for rheumatic disease-related disabilities. Generative AI chatbots may help rheumatologists write medical letters efficiently.

Overview: Shared decision-making (SDM) is the process through which patients and providers work together to select care plans that align with patients’ preferences and goals.  Successful SDM requires the implementation of skills relating to communication, interpersonal relations, and systems-based practice.

Objectives:  By the end of the training, learners will be able to…

• Describe the four general steps of SDM
• Identify patient scenarios when VC will benefit SDM
• Describe health systems that support SDM during VC
• Demonstrate facile use of telehealth communication skills as well as tools within VC platforms to successfully promote share decision-making during VC