Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts will discuss ongoing priorities that build on his administration’s work to strengthen the Commonwealth’s healthcare system, ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for all, and tackle the opioid epidemic.

This talk will discuss the appropriate use of PPIs, including FDA indications and other accepted uses based on guidelines and systematic reviews. There will also be a brief review of the literature regarding issues of PPI safety. While many retrospective studies have raised concerns about various health conditions associated with PPI use, the quality of these studies need to be accounted for when considering the potential benefit that can be derived from these medications, even with long-term use. Finally, the faculty will provide a summary of “best practices."

The history of cannabis (marijuana) use goes back over 5,000 years. It has been used throughout the world and increased/decreased in popular use at various times throughout the centuries. In the U.S., cannabis has been used for recreational, mood-altering experiences and for various medical conditions, such as chronic pain and epilepsy. This presentation will review the biochemical properties of cannabis as well as its mode of action and metabolism. The faculty will review the clinical studies that either support or debunk the use of medical marijuana, describe the frequency of addiction, and the present the newest work on treating withdrawal symptoms. They will also discuss the current state of legalization at the local, state, and federal level

Many clinicians struggle to differentiate between patients presenting with delirium and those presenting with dementia. In this lecture, the faculty will describe the important dos and don’ts of managing both patient populations. You will review common precipitants of delirium and consider the diagnosis and management of patients with dementia who present with delirium.

This will be a live demonstration of a comprehensive shoulder examination, including range of motion, strength testing, and special provocative exams.

In this informative session, the speaker will help clinicians build better understandings with their patients and discuss how to make the office a more welcoming environment. Participants will walk away with culturally-informed and -sensitive approaches to counseling and an enhanced comprehension of the unique mental health problems faced by the LGBTQ population.

This talk will review differences in prescribing to older adults and age-associated changes in metabolism. Polypharmacy and the Beers criteria will be discussed to summarize common adverse drug effects. Real world examples will assist in outlining a systematic approach to prescribing and describe tools that help this process. Learners will walk away with tips to enhance safe medication use.

In this interactive case-based lecture, the faculty will answer the question “what is kidney disease?” and identify the common tests used to diagnose this often-silent disease. Additional slides will be devoted to interpreting urinalysis. The faculty will discuss diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and how to manage it. The management portion of this lecture will emphasize the importance of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition and hypoglycemic agents in slowing the progression of CKD. You will receive an overview of common medications that require additional monitoring and learn more about renal replacement therapy in patients with comorbid diseases.

In this case-based session, the faculty will review differences in prescribing for in older adults and age-associated changes in metabolism. Real-world examples will demonstrate common adverse drug effects, a systematic approach to deprescribing, and tools such as the updated 2019 AGS Beers criteria. You will walk away from this talk with tips to enhance safe medication use in your practice.

This talk will address common questions asked about patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). What is a good blood pressure target for my patient? How should I use ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in CKD? Or evaluate for secondary hypertension? What about new treatments like sodium bicarbonate and SGLT2 inhibitors? As well as answering these questions, the faculty will discuss the goals of the executive order from the Department of Health and Human Services signed in July 2019: reducing the risk of kidney failure, improving access and quality of person-centered treatment options, and increasing access to transplants.

For four decades, leading physicians have called patients the most under-used resource in healthcare, a sentiment amplified by statements like "Nothing about me without me." But slogans alone don’t cause change, and the time has come to teach clinicians (and patients/caregivers) to evolve healthcare in the internet age and to seek the evidence, rationale, and theoretical basis for these practices. While many patients are not yet "e-patients" (empowered and engaged), new care models are emerging and real. When new methods are understood and developed, the workload can be rebalanced, and the results can be more fulfilling for all. This unconventional keynote will be shared, fittingly, by the best-known exemplars of this new model: stage IV cancer survivor "e-Patient Dave" deBronkart and his physician, Dr. Danny Sands. They are two of the co-founders of the Society for Participatory Medicine and co-authors of "Let Patients Help: A Patient Engagement Handbook." Participants will learn about the transformative and potentially disruptive movement of participatory medicine, and they will leave informed -- even empowered -- to take effective new actions on behalf of their patients.

Sjögren's syndrome is more than just dry eyes and dry mouth; it is a complex, systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Primary care clinicians are in a unique position to help patients make sense of the complex array of symptoms to reach a diagnosis, make a referral to a rheumatologist when possible, or if needed, fully treat the disease. As the number of rheumatologists in the U.S. declines, it is essential that primary care clinicians understand how to diagnose and manage Sjögren’s syndrome in order to help patients live fully and comfortably with their disease.